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THE MILITARY CHAPLAIN
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE
MILITARY CHAPLAINS ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES 1751 N Street, N.W., Washington 6, D. C.
The Professional Journal for Chaplains and
Religious Workers C 0 N T E N T S
EDITOR ......... CHAPLAIN HAROLD G. ELSAM
ASSOCIATE ..... CHAPLAIN MONROE DREW, JR. Page
EDITORIAL BOARD THE PRESIDENT'S PAGE ......................... 1
CHAPLAINS CLIFFORD M. DRURY, San Anselmo, Cal.
and WILLIAM T. BRUNDICK, Overseas Editor. CHAPTER AND CHAPLAIN ACTIVITIES.......... 2
THE CHAPLAIN'S PLACE IN THE ARMED
THE MILITARY CHAPLAIN is not the ofcial SERVICES .................................. 4
THE MILITARY CHAPLAIN is not the official
mouthpiece of the Chiefs of Chaplains of the THE FULFILLMENT OF A STRANGE PROPHECY... 5 various services. The fact that an article appears
in its columns does not indicate the approval of ARMED SERVICES BROADEN CHAPLAIN the views expressed in it by any group or any in-RMED SERVICES BROADEN CHAPLAIN dividual other than the author. It is our policy to ACTIVITIES ................................. 6
print articles on subjects of interest to chaplains
and religious workers although some or all of the CARIBBEAN CIRCUIT ................ ............ 7
opinions advanced may be at variance with those
held by the President of the Chaplains Associ- NATIONAL FUND DRIVE ............... 9
ation, the members of the Executive CommitteeNA O LF D RV.... and the Editors. EVANGELISM AS THE PRIMARY AND BASIC RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL THE CHURCHES ..... 10 The Military Chaplains Association of
the United States ARMED SERVICES YMCA THEN AND NOW ...... 12
the United States
THE GOSPEL CROSSES THE ARCTIC CIRCLE ...... 14 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT WORLD WAR II CHAPLAINS ORGANIZING
CHAPLAIN ROBERT J. WHITE, USNR NATIONAL "WING" .......................... 15
VICE PRESIDENTS YOKOHAMA COMMAND CHAPEL .CENTER ....... 16 CHAPLAIN FRANCIS V. SULLIVAN, USNR .. I AA ALCOHOL EDUCATION THAT SUCCEEDS......... 18
CHAPLAIN FREDERICK C. REYNOLDS, NG.. II AA THEIRS TO REASON WHY ....................... 19
CHAPLAIN HENRY BELL HODGKINS, USNR, III AA EDITORIALS ..................................... 20
CHAPLAIN LESLIE F. ZIMMERMAN, ORC . IV AA FEWER DUSTY BIBLES ......... ....... 21
CHAPLAIN EDWARD J. SMITH, ORC ....... V AA SOME ENEMIES OF MORALE-COMMUNISM22 SOME ENEMIES OF MORALE-COMMUNISM. ..... 22 CHAPLAIN C. PARDEE ERDMAN, USNR. VI AA
CHAPLAIN FRANK L. WHITE, ORC .... At Large JEWISH CHAPLAINS DURING THE CIVIL WAR .... 27 CHAPLAIN JAMES B. CLAYPOOL, USNR. At Large EVERETT PETER WUEBBENS-1902-1949..........33
CHAPLAIN EMANUEL RACKMAN, ORC.. At Large CHAPLAIN'S CORNER ........................... 34
MEMBERS LETTERS AND COMMENTS ...................... 35
ALL PAST PRESIDENTS, PAST EDITORS, AND SHINTO-Part II ................................. 36
PAST EXECUTIVE SECRETARIES
SECRETARY-TREASURER THOUGHTS, ACTIVITIES, TECHNIQUES .......... 39
CHAPLAIN HAROLD G. ELSAM "SEE YOU IN CHICAGO!" ... ................. Cover 3
VOLUME XIX JANUARY-FEBRUARY, 1949 NUMBER 3
Published quarterly by the Military Chaplains Association of the United States. Issues are dated January-February, April-May, July-August and October-November. Publication, Editorial and Executive Offices, 1751 N Street, N.W., Washington, D. C. Entered as Second Class Matter at Washington, D. C., additional entry at Richmond, Virginia, under the act of March 3, 1879. This magazine is mailed to all members of the Chaplains' Association who are in good standing by reason of payment of the current membership fee of $3.00 per calendar year of which $2.00 is for THE MILITARY CHAPLAIN. Subscriptions to all others not eligible for membership are $3.00 per calendar year. Foreign subscriptions (non-members) are $4.00 per calendar year. THE MILITARY CHAPLAIN does not carry paid advertisements.
THE PRESIDENT'S PAGE
"1949" morality in the armed services. Our organization is unique in this country, embracing within its membership, ChapITH the coming of 1949 with its gay parties we pray lains of all faith and of all services, united in a common that our people possess a religious appreciation- effort to strengthen the spiritual foundations of those who deeper than gift giving and card sending-of the true serve in the military forces. meaning of the advent and a true understanding of the Our Convention went far beyond any general platitudes religious meaning of the New Year. in authorizing standing commissions which would proDespite our magnificent generosity to the World's poor, mote decency in entertainment in the armed services; offiand despite our indefatigable efforts to achieve an under- cial dealing with just grievances of Chaplains in attacks standing between nations which would insure a just and upon religion and morality; a commission to work with lasting peace, we cannot say that the future is not over- the armed services in respect to proper spiritual and macast with some clouds of doubt and distrust that may turn terial preparation for marriage; and adopting a truly to despair. American solution of the problem of segregation. The World events since World War II have conclusively spiritual addresses of the Convention were truly remarkdemonstrated to all reasonable Americans the necessity able. Those Chaplains who were fortunate enough to atfor building and preserving a strong military defense. The tend, returned home enthusiastic about the future policy increased demands for military personnel are apparent in and program of the Association. the additional draft quotas. The reopening of camps have The Nation has honored Chaplains by issuance of a provided quarters for some hundreds 6f thousands of new memorial stamp. But that should by no means be conrecruits. The "new look" not only in uniforms but in sidered a valedictory address to the Chaplains. With the handling personnel has attracted widespread interest. The expansion of the armed services, we may be certain that need for additional Chaplains and the heavy load of the enemies of religion and morality will be more rather spiritual care and leadership of Chaplains now on active than less active. Atheistic and pagan hostility is a certainduty is evident to all. ty. The forces which would weaken our spiritual foundaMoreover, the President of the United States has taken tions by appeals to degradation and indecency will still note of some drab and sordid experiences of World War be active. There is a need as never before for united effort II by appointing a group of notable leaders as a committee to avert or crush some of the sordid forces which Chapon moral welfare of men in the armed services. lains know too well.
The whole situation naturally poses the question of the In such a situation, the Association makes a new appeal purposes, influences, and program of our Military Chap- to every Chaplain who has served or is serving in the mililains Association. In our National Convention, which was tary forces, not only to respond to the appeal for memconsidered the largest and most active in our history, the bership, but alsq to add to your New Year's resolution a Association adopted a new constitution, and after delibe- pledge to actively interest all other Chaplains in your comrate discussion assumed a strong position in vital ques- munity to the end that "united we may stand together tions which brought widespread comment, favorable edi- and strengthen the spiritual foundations of the defenders torials, and an enthusiastic response from the membership. of America." The purposes of our Association are stated in Article I
of the new constitution, as follows: "We Commend"
"Humbly invoking the assistance of Almighty God, we
associate ourselves together for the following purposes: I have read with approval the news item that Secretary 'To safeguard and to strengthen the forces of faith and Forrestal is considering official action to stop the present morality of our nation; to perpetuate and to deepen the plethora of "Who dunnit-not me" articles about military bonds of 'understanding and friendship of our military mistakes in World War II. service; to preserve our spiritual influence and interest in We had supposed that the rule requiring sufficient all members and veterans of the armed forces; to uphold clearance of military articles by all officers, including rethe Constitution of the United Nations; and to promote tired officers, was equally applicable to the little fellow Justice, Peace, and Good Will'." and to top officers. We can see no valid reason for an exThe Convention wisely avoided any official standing ception for articles in technicolor with lush fees. Of course on the proposed methods of enlarging the armed services, there is a necessity for critical review of military campaigns. but it took the admirable position that "once a Chaplain, However, the proper forum should be the War College always a Chaplain." We all owe an obligation, individual- for a similar forum or military committee of Congress ly and collectively, to further the cause of religion and where arguments can be presented and discussed as the basis for future improvements in the military forces. To
*With this issue we initiate a new department in our magazine-"The us, these articles seem to aim more at presenting "a perPresident's Page. The Editors believe that the President of the Association should have this excellent medium of communication opened to him. sonal vindication at the expense of personal enemies" than SPresident White offers us a message "1949" and the copy of an open any serious attempt to correct military mistakes or evils. better Written by him to the editor of the New York Times called, for There is one aspect of this plethora which appears parhe purpose of this journal, "We Commend." There is one aspect of this plethora which appears parJonuary- February, 1949 1
i14
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Chapter Charter presented by Chaplain Robert L. White (left) to Chaplain Millard Roberts, President Greater Chicago Chapter.
ticularly ominous. In the critical situation "today" and PTA for a lot of "tomorrows"-we will need a strong military CHAPTER AND force backed by the confidence of parents and all Americans. What surer method could be found to break down CHAPLAIN ACTIVITIES such confidence than public presentation of military "feudin' and fussin' with blazing headlines "X was a mistake"? What sharper stab could increase the suffering and long loneliness of brave casualties in such a campaign, and engender bitterness in the memories of surviving 1-Chaplains' Conference, Tokyo. parents who gave sons so generously? 2-Chaplain Luther D. Miller, Chief of Chaplains of the Army
Placing the curb on this plethora would be in no proper (extreme left) chats with Chaplain P. C. Schroder, Senior sense a restraint on the freedom of the individual, nor a Chaplain for XXIV Corps, Chaplain Martin Poch, Chief Sof Personnel in the Office of the Chief of Chaplains, and cover-up for military errors. By all means expose them Chaplain David L. Brewer, Headquarters 216th QM Batbut in a proper tribunal and in a useful process for future talion, during a reception held at the Chosen Hotel here military improvement-rather than in personal and often recently in honor of General Miller. petty self-glorification of the razzling revelations "Who 3--Chaplain Luther D. Miller addressed this group at the dunnit-not me! --hpl. Luhe D. Mile adrse this. gruah
dunnit-not me!" Assciation meeting 20 October 1948 at St. Luke Chapel, ROBERT J. WHITE, President, t'kyo, Japan. The Military Chaplains. Association 4- resident Robert J. White presents charter to Boston of the United States of America. Chapter.
2 The Military Chapladin
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THE CHAPLAIN'S PLACE IN THE
ARMED SERVICES
By ADMIRAL DEWITT C. RAMSEY
ALTHOUGH I will talk to you tonight on the subject physical discomfort. It is obvious that the solution to the
of "The Chaplain's Place in the Armed Services," I difficult problem of welding this group of men into a hatask your forbearance if I deal in the main with the role monious, effective, spirited team lies primarily in the atof the Naval Chaplain, as I have observed it and inter- tainment of a high individual state of morale. There is preted it during the forty years of my service in the Navy. no standard formula that can be applied to achieve this I feel sure that my remarks in the majority of instances end. It is primarily a problem demanding the full time and will have a general application and close relationship to attention of a Chaplain-a man of infinite patience, a man the interests and activities of the Chaplains in our sister of profound human understanding. One who adapts himservices, the Army and the Air Force. self to the various levels of intelligence and experience
We have all heard a great deal during the last three or of the men with whom he deals. One who is willing to four years about "winning the peace." Everyone from our hear them out patiently and sympathetically and to imleading statesmen and diplomats to the lowliest soap-box part to them confidence, faith, understanding, and an aporator has given us the benefit of his theories. But the preciation of the far-reaching effects of their individual basic fact is brought home to all of us that only when efforts and devotion to duty. I have said that the Cornmen-all men of all races-have peace in their hearts can manding Officer is charged with over-all responsibility for there be peace in the world! Herein lies the Chaplain's the effectiveness and efficiency of the command but in greatest mission; a inission shared by all men of good will dealing with matters of morale it is obvious that his duties who strive in their hearts and in their daily tasks to some- in this field must be collateral. In the field of the Chapday, somehow, achieve true-and lasting peace on earth. lain's efforts this duty is of vital importance and I trust
It is a widely accepted theory that morale in any military you agree with me that it should be so regarded.
organization is a direct concomitant of the character and I know and appreciate that you gentlemen are primarily ability of the Commanding Officer. When morale is high, religious men; that your duty and mission is first of all so the theory goes, we may assume that there is an able to bring the word of God to those entrusted to your care. officer in command; and where it is low we may look for But I do not feel I wander too far afield in regarding you deficiencies in the character of the commander. as guardians of morale. Surely, the attainment of happy
In the case of smaller ships and units, I think this theory adjustment to environment, the willingness to do one's is valid. By smaller units, I mean those whose population best in the discharge of the duties which life has placed is such that the Commanding Officer may have opportun- upon us is not at variance with divine intentions for the ity for frequent contact with his men-where he may, so people of this world. to speak, get to know them fairly well. I should like, therefore, to discuss with you your unique
But in the case of larger ships and units, where mani- place in the military organization-your particular status festly it is impossible for the commanding officer to estab- which enables you to promote and maintain the spirit of lish close personal contact with his men; I think the rela- your shipmates-your opportunity to further their happitionship of the commanding officer to the degree of morale ness and in so doing to make of your organization one is not so direct. I do not mean, of course, to dismiss the fully responsive to the high trust which the people of our commander as a factor in morale. Without able leader- country have placed in the armed services. ship, morale is bound to suffer. But I feel strongly that You are, as I have said, primarily religious men. And the spirit and happiness of the men in larger commands unless you succeed in your mission of bringing an underis more intimately related to an officer other than the Com- standing of God to your shipmates, you cannot succeed in mander. I refer to the Chaplain. the other missions of your office. For, in my judgment,
For here we find the problems of population pressure, adjustment of man to his environment is impossible unless the assemblage of widely diversified representatives from he has within his soul that confidence in divine guidance all parts of the country. We find artificialities in living, which is religion-whatever the sect of the individual difficulties of transportation, young men accustomed to m be freedom of movement, separated by great distances from ayWe need not look for tragic proof of that theorem, for their families and friends. Young men who have suddenly We need not look for tragic proof of that theorem, for found their familes confined to restricted living men who have suddenly work- we live in a materialistic age. Man's technical and scientific found themselves confined to restricted living and work-avnehvedsotdurccptfrltieausad ing spaces with duties which frequently expose them to avansomehow led many to think of man as a sort of suthe rigors of weather with attendant mental strain and have somehow led many to think of man as a sort of supreme being rather than as an example of God's creative
*Address given by Admiral Dewitt C. Ramsey to the Service Chap- magnificence. To such unfortunate people, the conselains' Association of the Territory of Hawaii at Pearl Harbor, Oahu, on quences are dire and dreadful. In time of adversity-and 13 October 1948.qun
4 The Military Chaplail
The Fulfillment Of A Strange Prophecy
By CHAPLAIN CLIFFORD M. DRURY, USNR
SANGING in a frame on the grounds of the Naval The words in italics have been emphasized in this manAcademy at Annapolis is an old Okinawa (or Lew ner in order to draw the attention of the reader to the Chew) temple bell which was brought to this country by prophecy. The promise was made that as long as the Commodore Perry after his expedition to Japan in 1854. rulers of the land acted "rightly and truly" and as long The bell is rung by the Midshipmen whenever the Academy as "the Lords & Ministers will do justice," "the barbarians" is victorious in a football game. would not come. For centuries Japan remained free from The bell carries a long Japanese inscription, a copy of invasion. Then came the ill day when the militarists sethe translation of which was furnished the author in 1946 cured control. The high principles of truth and justice by Commander E. John Long of the Academy. The trans- were sacrificed for expediency. Japan set out to rule all of lation, made by a Japanese student at the Academy in 1876, Asia. Human rights even in the home islands were ignored. is as follows: And finally "the barbarians" came. In the eighth year of Eiraku and Kanoye Tora, of the The invaders landed on Okinawa and battle raged reign of the King of Lew Chew, Kei-shi-yu-Ho-o offered about Naha where the old temple stood which contained a prayer of benevolence for the people, and afterwards the bell back in 1854 when Perry visited the city. Just how ordered a large bell to be founded. He did this as an act Commodore Perry got possession of this ancient relic is of thanksgiving, and presented it to the temple of Daizen not known. Was it a present from the Japanese? Or, was Anji, in the kingdom, in order that the King might reign it purchased? Or, did members of the expedition just prosperously, and live long, and that the people of the take it? three worlds-Heaven, Earth & Hades-might be saved No longer does the ringing of the bell "convey the virfrom infernal doctrines; and therefore it was that he in- tue of Fushi" or remind the rulers of Okinawa to rule structed Shokoku Ansai to frame this inscription: justly and well. The chances are that not one in a thousand of the Midshipmen at Annapolis knows or cares about the "This beautiful Bell has been founded, and hung in ancient inscription. Today the bell is a part of the tradition the tower of the temple. It will awaken dreams of at the Academy. Its ringing today gives sweet-toned boastsuperstition. If one will bear in mind to act rightly ing to a football victory.
and truly, and the Lords & Ministers will do justice As a sidelight to the story, it is interesting to note that in a body, the barbarians will never come to invade. Chaplain George Jones, one of the first faculty members The sound of the bell convey the virtue of Fushi, at the Academy, was a chaplain on this Perry expedition.
and will echo like the song of Tsuirai, and the Chaplain Jones not only wrote the third volume of Perry's benevolence of the Lords will continue forever like official report but also contributed an article to the second those echoes." volume on "A Geological Exploration, etc., of the Island The 20th day 10 months 7th year Keitai (corresponding of the Great Lew Chew." That was the old name for to the year 1456) Okinawa. Also, Chaplain Jones conducted a funeral servShiu Eishi ice ashore at Yokohama for a Marine on 9 March 1854. Chief Priest of the Temple. That was the first Christian service permitted in Japan for Emonnoske Fujiwara Kunimit-Founder of the Bell. over 200 years and the first Protestant service ever known Yonafuku Chiusei-President of the Hanging Ceremony. to have been conducted in that land.
whose life has lacked adversity in one form of another?- held sacred. You cannot, under the law of the land, be they have no one to whom they may turn for guidance. compelled to disclose anything which has thus been conThavitig elevated man to the supreme place in their scheme fided in you. of creation, they are unable to find one upon whom to A similarly shielded confidence exists in communicapin their faith when man's obvious inability to cope with tions between doctor and patient. I would not for a moills of this life becomes apparent. ment suggest that medical aid is less than a matter of
It is, then, a prime requirement of success in your work great importance. But I do feel that, in the long run and that you attain the primary goal to which you have dedi- for the greater number, problems which try the soul tranScated yourselves as men of religion, scend the gravity of those which beset the body. And it is
From your status as an instrumentality to spread the in the field of such problems that you gentlemen are word of God, there develops a high degree of confidence uniquely responsible and qualified to function. between you and your shipmates. The law recognizes this In providing counsel for those burdened with personal peculiar relationship between spiritual advisor and those difficulties, no other officer in the military organization who seek his counsel. To you a man may speak freely, can be of such significant help as the Chaplain. Neither knowing that ethically and legally his confidence will be (Continued on page 38) January-February, 1949 5
Armed Services Broaden Chaplain Activities'
CONSIDER RELIGION AND ATTENDANCE AT CHURCH SERVICES IMPORTANT PART OF MILITARY LIFE
T HE "new look" in the Armed Services extends not that through continuing, positive measures to encourage
only to the field of education, but also to the religious morality, a new realization has been born-that the Army phases of the life of inductees and enlisted personnel. has an obligation, especially to the parent of the youthful Chaplain activities, particularly in the Army where the soldier, to continue insofar as possible under the condibulk of the new recruits are assigned, have been materially tions of military service, the wholesome influences of the broadened. home, the family and the community. The reward is rich:
In the words of Secretary of the Army, Kenneth C. better citizens and better soldiers."
Royall, "The Department of the Army considers religion The objectives of the chaplain contribute vitally to good and attendance at church services an important part in citizenship and a more effective Army for strength of the life of the soldier." This view is shared by other high character is an essential factor in national defense. It is ranking officers and officials in both branches of the serv- a challenge which must be met with industry and intelliice. gence, courage and prayer.
"Religion not only contributes to strength of character; "World order or disorder," it is explained, "is the prodit also buttresses the fundamental teachings of democracy," uct of order or disorder in human character. Bad morals is the attitude prevalent in the armed forces. "The moral is bad business-not only for individuals and nations but sanctions on which democratic principles are based," ex- for the Army." plains an Army bulletin, "are found in the religion of the In recognition of this, commanding officers have set Bible. Some of the roots run back to Roman law and Greek aside special periods for religious activity and have prophilosophy, but they have drawn their vigor from the vided greater facilities to enable chaplains to implement Church and Synagogue. their programs. An important activity, illustrating this, is
"The potential dignity of man as a child of God makes "The Chaplain's Hour." Chaplains meet with personnel him worthy of liberty and-the all-embracing concept of of their units for lectures and discussions pertaining to the brotherhood of man provides the cornerstone of civil the American way of life. and political liberty. The signers of the Declaration of A definite attempt is made to heighten the participants' Independence were very much aware of man's relation- sense of responsibility. With this in mind, lectures are ship to God when they wrote: 'All men are endowed by designed to impress upon the individual that he is a creatheir Creator with certain inalienable rights-life, liberty ture of God and therefor responsible and accountable to and the pursuit of happiness.' Those rights were given by the Creator for his behavior. the Creator-not by the State or the vote of the majority. To insure greater and constant spiritual and character Loss of faith in the Creator means loss of faith in those guidance for the soldiers, the Army maiintains chapels at God-given liberties." all posts for use of military personnel. Clergymen, comDue to the fact that the strength of the Navy and missioned to serve in the Chaplain Corps, provide perMarines is not visibly affected by recent developments in sonnel with the same spiritual ministration provided by the drafting of military personnel, the Navy Chaplain clergymen in civilian communities. Corps is not faced with the expansion problems of the Compulsory church attendance is not required, but, Army and Air Force. The role of the Navy Chaplain, how- through example and precept, every assistance is given to ever, also has come in for greater recognition, the Army's religious program. Training programs are so
The future will see the chaplain serving increasingly arranged that men have ample time to meet their religious in the role of educator. More and more he will be called obligations. upon as a specialist in citizenship and morale as well as In addition to making men increasingly aware of the an authority in religion, presence of God, chaplains will continue to serve soldiers
This trend will place additional demands upon the chap- in many other pressing problems. All former soldiers well lains. A recent directive from the Department of the Army remember the familiar saying "See the Chaplain" when placed greater responsibility on chaplains to participate they were bothered with a particularly vexing problem. in the Army's Character Guidance Council. This provides The chaplain will continue to function as the repository for activities that seek to instill the development of moral for all the soldier's gripes and complaints. responsibility, spiritual values and self-discipline in sol- Chaplains also interview new arrivals soon after they diers. Commanders are expected to rely heavily on the arrive and write to their families, assuring them of their Chaplain by virtue of "his special responsibility for the interest in the welfare of the newly arrived man or woman. moral and spiritual welfare of troops, his extensive ex- Service in either of the armed forces will involve no perience and background, and his relationship with the limitation of religious life or activity on the part of the individual soldier." individual. If anything, greater opportunity and encour"Of great significance," said Mr. Royall, "is the fact agement is offered for the application of religious prin*Reprinted by permission of Understanding. ciples in the lives of military personnel.
6 The Military Chaplain
CARIBBEAN CIRCUIT
THE AIR FORCE CHAPLAIN PROGRAM WITHIN THE ANTILLES
THE wind-swept Antilles have enchanted men since the This constitutes a morale problem and a challenge to each
15th century. They dot the Caribbean like a reflection Air Base Garrison. There is little outlet for men. The everof the stars in "Draco"-the dragon in the northern skies. present challenge to the ingenuity of those concerned with For every star there is an isle. morale and spiritual interests has stimulated them to creChief among these terrestrial constellations are the ate a constructive program within the given confines of Greater Antilles-Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto each Air Base. Rico. Then, scattered as by the lavish hand of a celestial Distance makes for isolation. Fortunately, the Caribpotentate, the Lesser Antilles stud the southern surf in a bean is replete with side-trip possibilities. Some off-island broad arc stretching from Puerto Rico to the coast of Vene- morale trips, both by water and by air, are possible at zuela. These, in turn, divide at Martinique to form the nearly all of our bases. These must be augmented by every Windward Islands to the south and the Leeward Islands known aid to morale-recreational, cultural and religious to the north. Barbados, Trinidad, and Tobago are separate within the installations. Vernam AFB, Jamaica, B.W.I. is British Colonies. The remaining southern islands are in- served by Chaplain George McCahan. The base is some eluded in the Windward group which embraces St. Lucia, forty miles from Kingston, the capital of the island, where St. Vincent, Grenada and the Grenadine archipelago. The the well-known Myrtle Bank Hotel is located. First-rate Leewards include those between Puerto Rico and Mar- accommodations and an excellent cuisine is the rule. Montinique-the Virgin Islands of the United States; the teguo Bay is accessible and provides a tropical playground French islands, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Bartholemew, with superb beaches and a good hotel. and Marie Galante; the Dutch possessions, St. Eustatius The fabulous Spanish Main has left its imprint upon and Saba; and the British colony composed of five presi- the sands of several islands, where historic landmarks indencies: Antigua (with Barbuda and Redonda), Montser- trigue the transient airman. Puerto Rico is especially colorrat, Dominica, and St. Kitts-Nevis. All of the "Saints" of ful in historic interest. Old Spanish forts are found around this cluster were part of the myriad isles beheld by Colum- the coast at several points. Forbidding El Morro Castle bus when he declared them to be as St. Ursula and her 11,- frowns over the narrow harbor entrance at San Juan. Relics 000 virgins. For, added to these are dozens of minor satel- of other years date as far back as the 16th century. Agualites that break a turquoise sea in never-ending beauty dilla Bay, Puerto Rico is the only U. S. territory where along "the chain." It would be difficult to imagine more Columbus set foot. Ancient churches, some of them still in beautiful skies and seas than those of the Caribbean-a use, stand as symbols of a praying people. And in their natural panoramic phenomenon which, along with a salu- shadows, some of the world's worst slums mar the beauty brious climate, justifies the high traveller rate in the area. -of a land whose people have been burdened with poverty.
Upon this broad canvas lie the bases of the Antilles Air Puerto Rico derives its descriptive name from its one crop Division, commanded by Brigadier General John A. Sam- economy. Dark-green sugar cane covers the lush lands, ford, whose Headquarters is located at Ramey Air Force
Base on Puerto Rico. From the Caribbean Air Command "Headquarters at Panama, United States Air Force Bases are evenly spaced around a semicircle of radius 800 miles,
whose diameter is drawn from the Canal Zone to Trinidad, following the 10th parallel along the north coast of
South America. The Antilles Air Division comprises Vernamn AFB, Jamaica; Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico; Coolidge
AFB, Antigua; Beane AFB, St. Lucia; Waller AFB, Trinidad; and Atkinson AFB, British Guiana. Chaplains are
presently assigned at each of these Air Force Bases.
This circuit embraces considerable over-water distances
that make air lift the only practical means of transportation within the area. Ramey AFB in Puerto Rico is the airport for ingress and egress of airborne personnel and supplies, linked by MATS airplanes to Mobile, Alabama, and
by CAirC aircraft to Panama and around the chain.
All of our Air Force Bases, with the exception of Ramey
on Puerto Rico, are located on 99-year leased British territory. Assigned personnel have some off-base interests; the Chaplain O. S. Brown, Staff Chaplain Antilles Air Division, given" situation confronting Beane and Atkinson AFB's prepares to cover his Caribbean Circuit. Chaplain George J. Is virtual limitation to the confines of the installation. Cameron, Ramey AFB, is shown on the right. January.-February, 1949 7
sunken between knob-like volcanic hills. The agitated areas Beane Air Force Base, served by Presbyterian Chaplain lend a rugged appearance to the island's interior. As roads Frank E. Wiley, nestles among coconut palms before a are good all over the island, personnel venture at will. backdrop of volcanic hills. The "petones"-two prominent
Necessity, mother of invention, has led a relatively con- peaks-greet the airman as he wings in from the north, fined people to find or to make local recreational provi- with Castries visible on the north coast. A recent addition sions at each of our bases. Vernam, Ramey and Waller to this Base, the doll-sized chapel is among the most conhave excellent golf courses within the base inclosures. Fish- spicuous of its buildings. Surrounded by palms, and in ing and deep-sea trawling are popular everywhere. A year- full view of the ocean, this little white chapel stands as round moderate climate affords constant opportunities for an elevating symbol of religion in the American way of the swimmer. Equestrians find an occasional horse; Ver- life. From this Base, personnel may visit Martinique, Grenam has its "Dry Gulch Club" stables. At Ramey we say: nada, S. Vincent or Barbados. "Name it, and we have it," for many adjuncts for the well- Trinidad, most southerly island of the British West Inbeing of personnel augment the standard Special Service dies, is truly fascinating in its religious interests. In the provisions. Air trips to the Virgin Islands, Dominican Re- capital, Port of Spain, you will find Christian churches public, Guatemala and Haiti are occasionally possible side by side with Moslem mosques and Hindu temples. when home base activity palls. Minarets and crescents look strangely out of place in the
At Ramey Air Force Base, where Chaplains John J. western world; but Allah has his ever-devoted followers, Long (C) and George Cameron (P) are presently as- descendants of the original East Indians who worked the signed, a permanent-type barracks building has been desig- early plantations. A variegated population confronts one nated THE CHAPLAIN CENTER. The unavoidable re- in the streets: French, English, Indian, Dutch and Negro striction of some men has stimulated this Center for re- are intermixed after centuries of miscegenation. ligious and related morale activities. During the past two Physically, Trinidad's most striking feature is its hunyears it has featured a camera club, hobby shop, 24-hour dred-acre pitch lake at La Brea in the interior. The island lounge with international telephone connection, coffee, also produces petroleum, mahogany, tropical fruits, sugar chaplain's library, radio-phonograph and numerous other and some tobacco. activities. Here meet the Boy Scouts, Cubs, Girl Scouts, and Waller Air Force Base Chapel stands in splendid isolaBrownies. There are a half-dozen pianos and a modern tion. Chaplain Lewandowski (C) and Chaplain Fred W. Sunday School, with both Catholic and Protestant classes Carlock (P), Disciples of Christ, minister to the spiritual of over 250 children. Located opposite the Chapel, it is needs of their respective Catholic and Protestant congrealso adjacent to the airmen's barracks. Recently, a "Teen gations. Town" was formed for "teen-agers," complete with "juke Atkinson Air Force Base is hewn out of the jungle along box" and "coke" machine. The V.D. problem is all but the navigable Demarara River, forty miles inland from whipped here despite very high civilian infection off-base. Georgetown. Here is an assignment for men of stern stuff!
Antigua, B. W. I. is the location of Coolidge AFB, where Although families live in comfort on the Base, the surMethodist Chaplain Wesley W. Pendleton is assigned. rounding territory is virgin jungle. Upstream alligators Historic St. John's is some six miles away; and south of abound. Sinister feline game prowl the dense forests and the island the extensive Nelson Dockyards still stand, a can be heard at night. Monkeys chatter in the trees and memorial to the great English admiral. bright birds shriek through the forests. Tropical flowers grow among the luxuriant undergrowth and tangled creepers, with a score of varieties of orchids hanging from trees,
hosts to these lovely parasites. As in another Eden, here
pythons and lesser reptiles lie in wait for the unwary trespasser. Some of them are deadly poisonous, such as the
bushmaster. One form of interesting diversion in these
parts is a fight between a mongoose and a bushmaster.
Natives bet on which will win, as the outcome is by no
means certain. Boa constrictors are frequently shot for
being, for them, "off-limits."
CE Inland British Guiana is very primitive. Native Indian tribes and a few ranchers are occasionally visited from Atkinson AFB. A high plateau rises some 200 miles from
the coast, and from its 5,000-foot brim several waterfalls
tumble precipitately to the gorge below. These are seldom
seen, but Angel Falls is sometimes visible from the air.
Chaplain Glenn A. Gurley, Baptist, was recently assigned to Atkinson AFB, and he insists he loves it! It would
be a pity to assign a chaplain who didn't enjoy the weird
This entire building is The Chaplain Center, Ramey AFB, PR. and exhilarating attractions of the tropical jungles. It is a permanent-type structure, three stories high, and directly opposite the Chapel. Sunday School is over, and the 250 Perhaps a man's religion is inextricably bound to his
children who attend are escorted out by their teachers. economics. Magic, in varying degrees of blackness, is en8 The Military Chaplain
NATIONAL FUND DRIVE
Daniel W. Bell, former Under-secretary of the Treas- ... ury, announced the inauguration of a national drive for $450,000 to build a perpetual Interfaith Memorial Chapel at the United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut. Mr. Bell is Chairman of the Honorary National Committee for this proposed chapel.
The chapel was authorized by Act of Congress on July 21, 1947, and will be dedicated to all Coast Guard heroes who gave their lives in peace and war in the performance of Coast Guard duties.
Religious services at the Academy have been held in various buildings, including the gymnasium and theater. The proposed chapel would be erected in Georgian design to harmonize with the architecture of the Academy Reservation.
The Committee will also accept gifts for Memorials dedicated to individuals-such as windows, the pulpit, chancel or baptismal font, etc. The names of all donors will be inscribed in a "Remembrance Book" to be kept in the Memorial Chapel.
Other members of the committee include: Bishop William R. Arnold, of the Roman Catholic Military Ordin- Artist's conception of the proposed beautiful Memorial Chapel ariate of New York; Bishop Henry Knox Sherrill, Presid- to be erected at the U. S. Coast Guard Academy, ing Bishop of the Episcopal Church; Rabbi Stephen S. New London, Connecticut. Wise of the Free Synagogue of New York; Brien McMahon, U. S. Senator from Connecticut, and Henry Mor- Headquarters, Washington 25, D. C. Such contributions genthau, Jr., former Secretary of the Treasury. from individual or corporate donors are allowable deducContributions should be sent to the Treasurer, U. S. tions from Federal Income Tax in the manner and extent Coast Guard Memorial Chapel Fund, U. S. Coast Guard specified by law.
throned throughout the Caribbean. It keeps company with perate hope. Nearly all the people believe in magical heala somewhat blissful ignorance among the native people. ing of one kind or another," he said. Recently, I visited a missionary in the hills of St. Lucia. The Caribbean is an area where East meets West. Magic, In discussing the native peoples, he said: "They are ex- Voodoo, Christianity, African rites, Buddhism, Hinduism, tremely ignorant, yet capable of learning much. The re- Mohammedanism and Calypso music are strangely interligious task will take generations. One must not look for mingled! East Indians and descendants of the Caribs have pure Christianity. These people are simple souls, close to mixed with Portugese,,Spanish, English, Negro, Dutch and earth, highly superstitious. Their religion is part Christian, Syrian. One can read, in varying degrees, racial characterpart witchcraft and magic. Sometimes, Christianity is a istics in the silhouettes and profiles encountered along the thin veneer; then, again, you'd be surprised how well it roads of the various islands. is sometimes understood and how much enjoyment it brings The chaplain's task is not greatly different here from to these uncomplicated people." elsewhere, save for distance, loneliness and isolation. Social He told me of a recent visit to a native hut: "A woman life for troops is at a minimum and disease is rife. The lay sick on a straw pallet. Her emaciated daughter was in ler isat aes iri Te a coma. A bead of perspiration fell on the child. tIn- venereal disease problem, as it affects American airmen, coma. A bead of perspiration fell on the child. Immediately, the mother rejoiced. A tear from my eye had has been controlled to an acceptable figure. It is our task fallen on her daughter, she said, and she would get well. to implement the policies of our Chief of Air Force ChapThe radiant face of an otherwise defeated soul gave defi- lains, Colonel Charles I. Carpenter, in all related phases nite promise. And both were well within a few days." of troop life and activity; to keep our men morally clean, He told how these people had the equivalent of medi- mentally happy, and proud of the Service to which they cine men, and of the extreme difficulty in breaking the belong. A group of superior chaplains has pursued this superstitious bondage to them. "This is their only des- course to an admirable degree. January-February, 1949 9
Evangelism As The Primary And Basic
Responsibility Of All The Churches*
By THE RIGHT REVEREND STEPHEN NEILL
Associate General Secretary, World Council of Churches
IHE World Council of Churches has been in existence more ignorant and degraded and underprivileged than the
-since August 23, 1948. What is it for? I can devote poorest among the outcasts of India. But it is among them myself to its service only on the understanding that its that God has been pleased to perform some of the greatprimary concern is just this, to get the Gospel of redemp- est of His miracles of modern times. Their minds may be tion through Jesus Christ, out into all the world, to see dark, but the love of God in Christ has proved its power to to it that this message is proclaimed literally to every penetrate the darkness. human being now. living.in the world. Can it be done? 3. The conviction that there is no class which is inaccessible to the Gospel. The world holds the contrary, and we
CONVICTIONS are sometimes tempted to adapt ourselves to the judgment There is no possibility that the World Council and the of the world rather than to the judgment of God. Churches which it exists to serve will achieve this purpose, The world still believes that the conversion of a Moslem unless they are united in the conviction that this Gospel to Christianity is impossible, and does not happen. It is really is for all men, and that it is the will of God that it hard, but it does happen. When I was an undergraduate, should be universally proclaimed in this our generation. I came to know a perverse and red-headed student several
This general conviction becomes more effective if par- years junior to myself. I never thought that one day I ticularized under a number o separate heads: should commemorate that young man as an apostle of
1. The conviction that all men need the Gospel, and Christ. But in due course Ronald became a missionary in that there can be no substitute for it. To have suffered the India, married a nurse, and was appointed to look after loss of all things and to have Christ is riches untold. To a home for'lepers. There were really no funds in the mishave all things in the world and to be without Christ is sion to support him, so he and his heroic wife lived in to be irreparably poor. It is hard to believe this. When conditions of Spartan, or rather Franciscan, poverty. A we meet the best products of our civilization, and take severe attack of dysentery laid him low, and it fell to his note of their attractive culture, their great and real virtues, dearly beloved bishop to tell him that he would not. retheir astounding good will, we tend to think that their cover. It is hard to die with your eyes open at 32. But that need is, after all, not so great. It is not so. We are less was not the end. Ronald had made friends with a young dogmatic about heaven and hell than our fathers. We Moslem in government service. This young man, drawn hold, perhaps, that the purposes of God are wider than by a love such as he had never seen before, found, beyond our understanding, and that He can fit into His plan those human friendship, something that he had not bargained who have not become Christ's through the allegiance of for, and in time was captured by the infinite love of Christ. a living faith. Yet it remains true that no man is truly a He received in baptism the name of Francis. He is now man until he knows God in Christ, and that for any man one of the leading priests of the Church of India, and may to live and die without knowing Him is utter tragedy. As one day be a bishop. our World Council report expresses it, the Gospel is liter- Again, we tend to think that the intellectuals, entrenched ally a matter of life and death. in the fortress of their own self-sufficiency are an inacces2. The conviction that there is no race or people in the sible class. Did time permit, I could recount quite a numworld which has not the capacity to apprehend the Gospel. ber of instances of members of that class coming face to It is recorded that once when Robert Moffatt, the father- face with the living Christ, and confessing the inadequacy in-law of David Livingstone was staying with an old of man's understanding to solve any of his problems. The farmer in South Africa, he suggested that the slaves might name of C. S. Lewis is known on both sides of the Atbe called in for family prayers. The farmer turned scorn lantic. Let that one name stand as symbol for many others. fully to one of his sons and said "Call in the dogs." Where- Communism is one of our chief headaches in the Chris- Communism is one of our chief headaches in the Chrisupon Moffatt quietly read from the Gospels the passage tian world. Do we not often think of the communists as about the dogs which eat of the crumbs that fall from their an d enoe t e co musta master's table. This is the judgment of inen, but God has menaces and enemies, to be countered and frustrated? been pleased to choose the weak things to confound the Do we take seriously the fact that they also are brethren strong. It is hard to imagine any specimens of humanity for whom Christ died, and that if the Gospel is indeed the power of God unto salvation, then it is a power that
*We have extracted certain outstanding paragraphs of this great ad- G ser The dress.-The Editors, can save the Communist no less than anyone else? The 10 The Military Chaplain
Church can never make sure of its own future except by round him all the time in the place where he works. On converting its enemies; if we no longer have the power to him is laid both the responsibility and the opportunity. convert Communists, then we might be well advised as Let not the layman say that the opportunity never comes; Christians and Churches just to make our wills and give to those who are alert and responsive it does come. Even up the struggle. those most alienated from the Church are on occasion ready to talk about religion; when they give the opening, CHALLENGE the layman must be ready and equipped to step in. And
If we take seriously this outline and this estimate of the let him not say that his witness will be ineffective; that Christian task, it is clear that 'the fulfillment of it makes is just lack of faith in the Holy Spirit. And it is contrary demands heavier than can be met by any Church, or by to experience. It is perfectly plain that on many occasions, all the churches together. We can begin to deal with the the stumbling words of the ordinary layman, spoken in sitVation only as all churches are banded together in the utter sincerity, are far more effective than the most eloenterprise, with the duty of evangelism in its proper place, quent sermon. After all, the modern missionary movement as the first item on the Christian program, and only as may be said to have started when William Carey's fellowevery Christian in every Church is brought in to take his apprentice, whose very name was forgotten for more than share in the work. As our World Council report claims, a hundred years; spoke to him of the things of God and "It is indispensably necessary that every Christian ordained won him for Christ. or lay should be an active witness for Christ." 3. No Christian whatever need feel that he is excluded
1. If this is accepted, it obviously follows that it is not from this task. With every year that passes, I become more permitted for any minister to say "I am not an evange- impressed with the importance and the inadequacy of the list." It is, I believe true, that God gives different excel- ministry of intercession in our churches. There are those lences to different people. One is at his best as a teacher who by reason of old age or sickness are really beyond or pastor or administrator, and is less gifted for the work active participation in the work. This is where they come of an evangelist. There are in every generation a few peo- in. If they will use their leisure to uphold in prayer those ple who have supremely the gift of bringing their hearers who are actively at work, they are taking a major share to ihe point at which a personal decision to follow Christ in the work themselves. Some of us who are getting older is made. But, granted all that, it still remains true that look forward with apprehension to the day of retirement. the minister is ordained for the purpose of bringing men There is no need to think that that will be the end of and women to Christ; if he is not doing it, it is question- active service; it would be well if we began now to train able whether he ought to be in the ministry at all. To say, ourselves for the unseen ministry, that may well be the "I have no special gift" is no excuse. Is not this rather a most fruitful of all the things that we have ever done. gift of the Spirit than a gift of nature? If it is naturally lacking, should it not be claimed in faith, as one of the gifts and graces that God is willing to supply to those Chaplain Duty Fifty Years Ago who are commissioned to do His work? It may be that the (Fort Grant, Arizona News) greater part of a minister's time has to be spent as preacher, teacher or administrator. But for the sake of his success "The 18th of January (1898) was a day long in any or all of these, it is essential that he should be also to be remembered by the garrison at Fort Grant, an evangelist. The great danger in the work of the min- Ariz., because of the marriage of Lieut. Edward istry is professionalism, reliance on techniques and abili- Leonard King and Miss Nancy, the charming ties. Face to face with men and women in their real needs, daughter of Col. and Mrs. E. V. Sumner. the minister is driven back on a consciousness of his own "An event, of this nature is so rare at this farutter inadequacy and insufficiency. It is only the Holy away station that the portion of the garrison 'along Spirit who can bring about the miracle of conversion; the line' was in almost feverish excitement, and man's learning and eloquence are unavailing, unless man there was a marked eagerness on the part of everyis so emptied of himself that God can work. It is in body to add something to the preparations for the evangelism that we are driven back on God, and brought notable occasion. back to the foot of the cross, the only place where we are "For five .days the wires between Forts Grant safe. and Apache and the intermediate stations were
2. But equally, it is not open to any layman to say "I kept in operation to make sure of the location cannot be an evangelist." If he is a Christian, he must be from day to day of the officiating clergyman, Chapa witness. If he is not willing to be a witness, it is time lain Charles C. Pierce, who, by permission of the that he gave up calling himself a Christian. War Department, had left his station at Apache,
One of the chief insights given to us in our study of during a blinding snowstorm, and was wending evangelism in preparation for Amsterdam was the supreme his way on horseback and with military and Indian
preparation escort over the mountains to lend his service to importance of the layman in this whole business of mak- es the mnt o ed h ai friends in the regiment whose adopted chaplain
ing the Gospel known. Most of the people we especially he long since became." Contributed by Chaplain want to reach do not and will not come to church. They (Ret'd RA) H. R. Westcott. are almost beyond the reach of the minister and the professional Christian worker. The Christian layman has them January-February, 1949 11
ARMED SERVICES YMCA
THEN AND NOW
By EDWIN E. BOND, Senior Secretary
Edwin E. Bond.
W AR always emphasizes the vital need for a continu- W. B. Millar, later to become the first "Chief" of the
yying Christian minstry to young men in uniform. To Army and Navy Department, secured permission from meet this need, YMCA work among members of the Washington to locate YMCA tents with any of the CornUnited States Armed Forces had its beginning as the mands in training or in the field. There followed an "United States Christian Commission" in the early days amazing record of service during the brief war with Spain. of the Civil War. It continued on a reduced scale through A total of 210 YMCA tents were set up in camps within the thirty-odd years of peace following Appomattox, but the United States. In addition to personnel staffing these it was not until the nation was again plunged into war centers, 528 secretaries served the American troops in in 1898 that this important phase of association service Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. The program was organized on a permanefit basis. And so, over half consisted largely of providing recreation, reading and a century ago, in September of 1898, the Army and Navy writing materials, counselling, and the distribution of Department of the YMCA was born. 60,000 Bibles and Testaments.
From the outset, records show that the assistance given With the formal organization of the Army and Navy by chaplains in the Armed Forces of our country, was Department as a permanent part of association work, exlargely responsible for the impetus this newly organized pansion was rapid, and by 1901 the department was YMCA program received. On the very day that war was actively working at sixteen points in the United States, declared with Spain, April 25, 1898, YMCA work with sixteen in Cuba, ten in Puerto Rico, fifty in the Philipthe Armed Forces was started by the appointment of a pines, fourteen in China, three in Alaska, one in Hawaii twenty-three-man committee, headed by Colonel John J. and nine on transports, plus an additional two hundred McCook, to be known as the Army and Navy Christian other locations in the Philippines where partial service Commission. This commission, strongly encouraged by was rendered. The first permanent Army associations President McKinley, worked fast, and on April 30th, Mr. located in this country were at Forts Monroe, Hamilton, William McKinley and Jay. The right to erect these
privately owned buildings on Government property, was
authorized by a Special Act of Congress in 1902. Work
in the Armed Services Department continued its normal
pace until the world was again engulfed by armed conflict
YM-YWCA ski party. Group singing is a popular activity.
12 The Military Chaplain
in 1914. At that time the association had 22 organized r branches in the Army section and 9 in the Navy section. One hundred eighty travelling libraries were in circulation in the Army training centers and on shipboard. Within a week after the entry of the United States into the first World War on April 6, 1917, the YMCA had a program for aid to servicemen in operation. On June 25, 1917, twenty-seven overseas secretaries sailed for France. This group was later expanded to 25,926 men and women. In the United States, 962 special service buildings and 250 other units were erected and equipped. Five thousand troop train service programs were conducted. In England, 155 huts and other centers were operated. However, the bulk of work overseas was carried on in France, where 491 huts, 1,045 tents and 255 other rentals served the American Forces. In summing up the work of the YMCA with the troops during World War I, General John J. Pershing, stated-"As a matter of fact, about nine-tenths of the welfare work that was carried on in the American Expeditionary Forces, was Kitchen activities. under the direction and guidance of the YMCA. Following cessation of hostilities in 1918, there was permanent branches. The first USO Club was opened on a period of readjustment and expansion of YMCA work November 28th, and as of that same week, the YMCA with the Armed Forces. During this period several per- was operating 133 USO units with 155 workers in the field. manent buildings for use by servicemen were built. In The story of the USO is familiar to all, but it is interestthe Spring of 1940, YMCA officials were urged to study ing to note the role that the Armed Services Department the background of the present conflict, the questions pre- of the YMCA played in its operation. During the six years, sented for the United States and its people, and the role of from 1942 to 1947, nearly 46,000,000 visits were made to the Christian groups. The National Council authorized its 568 clubs and Armed Services YMCA's. Of this huge expansion of the Army and Navy Department and the total, 31 per cent was recorded in the Armed Services foundation for the Armed Services work of the YMCA in YMCA Department's permanent branches. World War II was laid. When the United Service Organ- Following the termination of USO on December 31, izations came into being in February 1941, the Army and 1947, the Armed Services Department carried on at 26 Navy Department presented a major contribution to the former USO designated operations and resumed its own new setup with its 36 regular Army and Navy established individual identity in its aforementioned units. At the close of 1948 the Armed Services Department was operS ating a total of 56 units in the United States, Hawaii, ...... China, Alaska, Guam and Puerto Rico. On the first of January 1949, the USO was recalled to active duty at the request of the Secretary for Defense, Mr. James Forrestal. The YMCA has assumed its share in the developing of ten new USO clubs that were requested by the Military, in an effort to more adequately serve the youth of our country, who were again being inducted into our Armed Forces. At the present time, sixty-eight units are operating under the administration of the Armed Services Department of the YMCA.
The- YMCA with its many years of background and training, provides a valuable adjunct to the Christian Ministry of our Armed. Forces. As the department goes forward this second half century, the assistance and encouragement given the program by the chaplains of the Armed Forces of the United States, will become more and more significant. It is an established fact that in the future, wherever the United States may elect to maintain its Armed Forces, the YMCA must, and will be prepared to Two good kids too tired to go back to camp. conduct its ministry.
January-February, 1949 13
The Gospel Crosses The Arctic Circle
By MARGARET T. HILLS, Librarian, American Bible Society
"E had never seen a tree until he was forty-eight, nor went for a long trip out onto the ice, glad to be back where JL. a camel, nor running fresh water, nor a city or even all was so quiet and peaceful. But civilization has caught a large town. But now he has translated the Gospel of up with even the northern coast of Alaska. Oil has been Mark and the Epistle to the Romans for his own people, discovered, and the new minister and his church realized inost of-whom, like himself, will probably never see some that they must face the challenge which an invading civilof these objects that are commonplace in the lives of most ization would bring. To meet this challenge they needed men. a Book.
"He" is Roy Ahmaogak, a Christian son of Christian The Eskimo dialects into which the Scriptures have been parents, at Point Barrow, 300 miles above the Arctic Circle, translated differ so greatly from that used by the 3,000 on the very northern point of Alaska. For years he has people living in Point Barrow and the region stretching served as a teacher in the local schools, for his own eighth- for 500 miles east and west of it, that they cannot be used grade education was supplemented by a course of reading by these people, who call their language the Inupiat diaunder a missionary's direction. For years also, he served lect. There are, however, family characteristics among all as aid and interpreter to missionaries and preachers, and the dialects. There are prefixes and suffixes, and words more recently as lay leader of a congregation in Wain- which form combinations that must be kept together. Some wright. He has also lived as a trapper and hunter, married languages have a variety of vowels. Barrow Eskimo seems a schoolteacher and is the father of eleven children and to have more problems in the use of consonants. There now has two grandchildren. He had had years of experi- are three "n" sounds, four "l's," two "k's," and two "g's," ence in putting into his own language for his people the but there are lacking the sounds of "r" and a number of word-of-mouth messages of 'the English-speaking preach- other consonants common in English. For instance, St. ers and missionaries. But there was no Bible or any part Mark is "Maagum." of it for the Christian community of twelve hundred peo- There are also problems in expressing unfamiliar obple, of whom seven hundred were church members and jects in terms the Eskimos can visualize without constant about eight hundred of whom could read. use of a Bible dictionary, which very few would have, so
In 1946 Mr. Ahmaogak was elected by the Yukon Pres- a literal translation of Mark 1: 6 into English would read: bytery the elder commissioner to the General Assembly of And John was clothed bighumpanimal hair and And John was clothed bighumpanimal hair and
the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., and arrangements were hadabelton a pieceofskin and dideat insectsthatump made for him toc spend a year "out" in special study and and beesnottamed thatwhichbeeseat. language work. Imagine the new experiences for such a
man! Although he had read much and seen many pictures, Although the translation was completed in the spring of all the activities and life of large towns and the country- 1947, type difficulties held up its printing until this year. side south of the Arctic Circle were new, fascinating and In July 1,000 copies of St. Mark were shipped to Alaska. also highly confusing! In quick succession there came the It is to be hoped they arrive before the winter. Last winter meetings of the General Assembly at Atlantic City; visits the Eskimos had been supplied with their primer provided with a retired but long-loved missionary in his home in by the Presbyterian Board of National Missions. In March Indiana; July and August at the Summer Institute of Lin- they were asking Mr. Ahmoagak, "When are we going guistics at Norman, Oklahoma, where Dr. Eugene Nida to get the translations of the Bible?" and "Be sure to save and John McIntosh helped him get his language into writ- me a copy when the books come, in case I am out of the ten form, prepare a primer and begin on a translation of village." He wrote: "Our people here have enjoyed learnthe Scriptures. The primer was planned not only to help ing how to read and write the Eskimo language from the his people learn to read their own language, but to famil- Eskimo primer, and words fail me to express my thanks iarize them with some of the terms and objects to be met to Dr. Nida of the American Bible Society for the help with in the Bible, so many of which had no place in their and encouragement he gave me in preparing it for our daily lives, people." Both Eskimos and whites have been using the
Then came the fall, winter and spring in New Jersey, primer. Now, during the long, dark days of this winter where he studied at Bloomfield Seminary. There were visits they will have the Gospel to tell them in their own to the zoo to see camels, lions and sheep; and trips to the language, translated by one of their own folks, clearly and Bible House in New York to consult with Dr. Nida on thrillingly the story often only half understood before. the translation. When summer came again, the translation The Epistle to the Romans is now being printed by the was finished and Mr. Ahmaogak returned to Alaska, where American Bible Society and perhaps it, too, will reah on June 3, 1947, he was ordained by the Yukon Presbytery Point Barrow before'transportation, except by air, is at
-the second of his people to become a church official. off for the winter; for it will help the church community The day after his return he hitched up his dog sled and to comprehend more fully the wonders of salvation. 14 6The Militar Chapil l
World War 11 Chaplains
Organizing National "Wing"
SNATION-WIDE Chaplains' "Wing, organized within the Air Force Association, is being formed by World War II chaplains who served with the Air Forces, it was announced today by Chaplain Augustus F. Gearhard, Chief of Chaplains for the Air Defense Command, which has headquarters at Mitchel Air Force Base, L. I., N. Y.
Comprised of battle-experienced clergymen who desire to carry on their wartime work of stimulating religious interest among Air Force servicemen through an organization of their own, the idea of the Chaplains' national wing was first discussed at a Chaplains' Association luncheon conference at the Roosevelt Hotel on September 24th. Acting with the full approval of the Air Force Association, 36 Chaplains from the New York area are prepared to organize the first squadron of the Chaplains' planned national wing at a meeting in the Air Defense Command's Staff Chaplain's Office at Mitchel Air Force Base on Novermber 10th.
The Chaplains' organizational committee is headed by Chaplain Major Roy M. Terry, Methodist headmaster of Jesse Lee Academy, West Redding, Conn., who holds a commission in the Chaplain Corps Reserve. Also included in the organizational committee are Chaplains Major Charles W. Newman, who has a mobilization assignment with the Headquarters squadron of the Fourth Air Division, Light Bombardment, at Mitchel Air Force Base and who serves at St. Paul's Episcopal Chapel, Trin- Roy M. Terry ity Paris New York, and Major Laurence R. Boyall, an officer i" the Chaplain Reserve with the 16th Air Force followed by informal discussions and question and answer Service Command at Fort Slocum, New Rochelle, who also sessions. serves with the Bay Shore Penataquit Methodist Church. Another project currently under way involves the collec Both Chaplain Colonel Augustus F. Gearhard, Air De- ing of tons of food and clothing by Air Force chaplain fense CommandChief of Chaplains and Chaplain Major through collection points at 74 Air Force bases throughfense Command ,Chief of Chaplamns and Chaplain Major ou Ph onr o ovadn ocalisoesa h
T. E. Adams, his Executive Officer, have declared them- out the country for forWarding to chaplains overseas wh
T. dashisExcui. .fiehv dcae hm arrange redistribution to the most needy devastated areate*
selves in complete accord with the idea of organizing a arrange redistribution tthe most needy devastated area national Chaplains' Wing within the Air Force Asso- Glowing responses from Air Force chaplains serving in cation and are offering the organization their complete Europe and Japan express the gratitude felt by destitute c-peration, recipients of these relief shipments to war-torn zones. Religious projects planned by Air Defense Command A newly established program to provide religious lay gReligious projects planned by Air Defense Command rtet o i oc esne a ensrnl d S".retreats for Air Force personnel has been strongly enStaff Chaplains strongly implement the USAF's Air Chap- dorsed by Lieutenant General George E. Stratemeyer, head lains program whose broad goal is the development of of the Air Defense Command, who- recently declared in a spiritual and moral character in the nation's airmen. letter to his Air Force Commandes--"The importance of
Catholic priests and Protestant ministers plan to con- this program designed to develop spiritual and moral chat-' duct three- and five-day preaching missions at 74 USAF acter in our airmen cannot be overemphasized. bases, throughout the country next year. participation in this program will be extended in scope,. SAir Force personnel attending these missions will be& and I earnestly urge that both the officer -personnel and invited to suggest sermon topics and the services will be the airmen in this command be encouraged to'participate." anuary-February, 1949 15
YOKOHAMA COMMAND
CHAPEL CENTER
By CHAPLAIN ROBERT S. HALL
NOVEMBER 21, 1948, Yokohama Command Chapel Center celebrated its first birthday. This beautiful building of modified Gothic architecture with its two chapels, two auditoriums, library, coffee room and kitchen has become a mecca for the military, navy, civilian workers, dependents, and ever-increasing tourists entering through the port of Yokohama.
Chaplains Robert S. Hall, Henry D. Sutton, and Milton J. Rosen have a full schedule outlined for the fall and winter months. There will be no dark nights at the Center throughout the week, classes in music, drama, finished photography, leatherwork and handicraft, a study of fourteen personalities who shaped the world and also a study of prophets. Every Wednesday a religious movie is shown such as Jairus Daughter, Calling of Matthew, A Woman to Remember, No Greater Power, Beyond Our Own, Mly Name is Han, That They Might Live, Book for World of Tomorrow, and others. These pictures are much enjoyed by all who see them. Thursday is known as State Night when pictures of one of the forty-eight states are shown. The State song and college songs are sung and a festive Yokohama Chapel Center. social hour is had by all after the picture. Saturday morning the youngsters have their own showing of Mickey
Yokohama Chapel Center Choir. 16 The Military Chaplain
J
j
Church School Beginners' Department.
Mouse, Pluto, The Three Brown Bears, The Little King, gether here at the Center side by side. Pop-Eye, and other comedies. The Center in its first year has shown and proved its Every month a new mural painting 12 ft. x 9 ft. finds a need. Entering into our second year's work, we do so gladplace of honor in the Chapel Patio where at night it is ly and humbly knowing.that God in his goodness and spotlighted. This month's picture depicts the three faiths, mercy has guided us and shown us the way. We are inclosProtestant, Catholic and Jewish, all of which work to- ing pictures of the Chapel Center and some of its activities.
/. *
Chaplain Luther D. Miller receives a Presentation Moro kris from Chaplain. Abdul Taib, only Chaplain to wear the Star and Crescent of the Mahommedan Faith.
January-February, 1949 17
Alcohol Education That Succeeds
By KENNETH F. WEAVER, Director of Public Relations, Allied Youth
H ARDLY anyone disputes the need for a program of enness clogging our jails and courts today, of the excesalcohol education today among teen-agers of this sive drinking that costs industry no less than $1,000,000,000 country. Reputable surveys show a marked increase in a year and contributes heavily to social maladjustment, the drinking, not only among adults, but also among high break-up of families, and increased hospital, jail, court school students and other teen-agers. The indications are and police costs. It is not surprising that the public is strong that more and more of this drinking is being done showing marked interest in education on this problem. in bars and taverns and in other situations not likely to be I suggest that there is a need for alcohol education beapproved by parents. Evidence from the Yale School of cause of an increase in emotional problems of the types Alcohol Studies indicates that two-thirds of all alcoholics that lead to drinking. There was a moral letdown during begin drinking habits in the early high school years. A the war years. There were emotional conflicts caused by recent survey of the Gallup Poll shows the greatest per- wholesale moving of families all over the country, and upcentage of drinkers to be in the age group twenty-one to rooting of young people. There was a decrease of parental twenty-nine. The conclusion is apparent that high school supervision during a period when in many families both is the place where drinking first becomes a problem for parents worked for long hours each day. All these have young people and where social pressure for drinking first contributed to a rise in number of court referrals, in the becomes acute-and that immediately after the high school number of bobby-soxers in trouble, and in the number of years is the period of most frequent initiation of drinking, cases crowding the offices of psychiatrists.
It is not surprising, in the face of these facts, that Wash- The increasing tension in modern life and the almost ington parents complain that high school students bring pathetic popularity of books pretending to tell people how liquor to parties, spike the punch, and get drunk. Or that to be happy, how to relax, how to stop worrying, how to in Pennsylvania a student asks, "My friends say they have live confidently-all make us ask, "How broad must our to drink to be popular. What can I do about it?" Or that education program be?" in Arkansas and Texas students tell of tragic deaths fol- Alcohol education today is not ideal, because of the lowing youthful drinking bouts. Or that in Virginia a scarcity of good textual materials. In many cases textbooks high school principal was recently forced to suspend all which should deal with the alcohol problem seriously and social activities for the junior class because of excessive effectively give it no space whatsoever. In many other cases drinking at school functions. such treatment as is given is sketchy and unreliable. There
But the need for alcohol education is broader than the, is an overemphasis on the subject in biology and physifact that increased numbers of young people are flirting ology, although a half century of teaching from these at a tender. age with the social and personal dynamite in standpoints has not produced the results so ardently exalcoholic beverages. The need arises also from the now pected. widely recognized problem of alcoholism, fourth in rank Six Good Steps as a public health problem in the United States. Today there are estimated to be four million alcohol addicts or I want to sketch briefly for you six characteristics of a excessive drinkers who are continually in trouble with their sound program of alcohol education: families, employers and communities. Of these four mil- 1. It must be scientific and not emotional. The problem lion, at least three-quarters of a million are known as of alcohol is a real one; therefore it is likely to be controchronic alcoholics, men and women who are mentally and versial and emotional. Wherever the emotional factor is alphysically sick as a result of excessive drinking. lowed to creep in strongly it obscures facts and makes obIt is significant that the public is becoming rapidly aware jective interpretation and understanding difficult. Thereof the importance of alcoholism. Within a recent twelve- fore, the sound educational program on this subject must month period every important national magazine in this be devoid of moralizing and preaching and must appeal to country carried at least one article about alcoholism. In the.reason rather than the emotion of young people. seven states recently established machinery is operating to 2. A sound alcohol education program must be honest. study and attack the problem. Citizens' committees have It must face up to the discoveries of modern universities been organized to survey the problem locally in at least and freely reject any "facts" not supported by the findings forty communities. Since 1943 the Yale School of Alcohol of university research. Studies has pioneered a program of effective research in 3. A sound alcohol education program must, speak the the problem, a program bearing fruit today in the work language of teen-agers. It must answer the questions teenof the National Committee for Education in Alcoholism. agers ask-not theoretical questions adults may conjure, Eighty thousand AA's-and the number increases by two up. It must understand the interests of teen-agers and rethousand each month-testify to the spiritual and physical late the program to those interests. I submit that the averhell of alcoholism and to the almot unique, resuIlts-of: age teen-ager today is not greatly concerned about the Alcoholics Anonymous in bringing about rehabilitation, problem of alcoholism as far as he himself is concerned
Yes, the public is rapidly becoming aware of the drunk- unless he sees alcoholism in his own family. He is very 18 "The Military Chaplain
THEIRS TO REASON WHY
If our postwar Army can be molded successfully along As long as there is a threat of war in the world, then, the lines described by Brigadier General C. T. Lanham, we must keep and sustain our Army in reasonably fit special assistant to the Chief of Staff, in a recent address, condition to fight the strongest and most ruthless of eneit will take on a dignity and strength that no Army before mies. And, because our young men of today who make it has possessed. It will develop an understanding of its up the new Army are able to think for themselves and are vital mission that not only will nourish a "will to win" encouraged to do so in civil life, the Army has found it but will gain it the public respect and support which it advisable to continue this encouragement as they enter a must have if it is to be an effective defense arm. regimented life. The time has passed when the guiding The Army is fully aware of the large task involved in principle of service is "theirs not to reason why, theirs but popularizing military service in a peace-loving democracy to do and die." Our new soldiers want to know the whys such as ours. As General Lanham pointed out to the Na- and wherefores of national defense. And their officers have tional Council for the Social Studies, the Army by its very been ordered to tell them why it is necessary for a great nature is the antithesis of the democratic way of life. Of democracy like the United States to raise and maintain a necessity it is authoritarian. Its officers are all-powerful, strong military establishment-in peace as well as war. its rank and file regimented in fact as well as theory. There The GIs today are being reminded anew of the blessings can be no compromises with these basic principles in even of democratic institutions. They are being given an oppora democratic army, lest it weaken itself in the face of well- tunity to understand why it is important that they be ready disciplined adversaries. It happens that there has been a to fight for these rights and privileges and to die for them growing demand-since World War II for "democratizing" if the crisis should demand such sacrifice. the Army in ways that military experts fear would serious- It is reassuring to know that our new Army thus is being ly lessen authority and break down discipline and morale. indoctrinated with an understanding of its role and its reGeneral Lanham put it succinctly, declaring that an Army sponsibilities that makes for self-respect and for public 'abandoned by the clergy, ignored by education, pilloried respect. An Army devoid of either type of respect is bound by the press and forsaken by the civil community will to fail. With them the Army is in a position to acquire the inevitably degenerate professionally and rot morally." esprit de corps and the material equipment essential to do
ietb its job.
*Reprinted by permission of The Washington Star. December 6, 1948.
much concerned, however, about how the use of alcohol that it should offer young people ideals, not taboos. Ideals will affect his social relations and his athletic prowess. He are positive andbroad; taboos are negative and narrow. wants very much to know how to face the social pressure Jesus spoke of the whole man; the psychiatrist speaks of for drinking when he is out with the gang on a date next the integrated individual. These are basic concepts and Friday night. they suggest strongly that the purpose of all education 4. This program to be effective must understand why should be primarily'to build the kind of personality that young people drink. Surveys among hundreds of high can adjust to the modern world. I cannot stress too strongschool students all over the country indicate the two major ly how important this is in the field of alcohol education. reasons: 1) They drink because they are bored and have Alcohol education must give to young people facts, of that nothing to do; they lack adequate recreational or social there can be no doubt. But even more important it must facilities; 2) They think drinking is smart, and they fear help adolescents find satisfying substitutes for drinking they will be unpopular with the crowd if they do not go and ways of meeting the social pressure for drinking. It along with drinking customs. There is a widely accepted must develop the personal resources necessary to meet the idea-unconscious though it may be-that drinking and tensions which produce many of the maladjustments at the prestige are connected. The carefully planned and expen- bottom of alcoholism. It must "build the inner disciplines sive advertisements in the Men of Distinction series have which can hold life together and keep it from flying apart not been without their results. beneath the centrifugal pressure of modern living." Since
5. A good program of alcohol education must not develop alcohol is often used as a crutch, the program of alcohol fear or new conflicts. All education today must be con- education must offer to young people othe crutches which cerned about mental hygiene, and it is not sound mental
hygiene to build fears and conflicts in young people. Here do not involve the dangers of alcohol. In a word, it must again we run into the problem of how to reconcile teach- show young people how to deal with the misery of life ingthat a practice is dangerous when a majority of respect- without making themselves more miserable in the process: able people engage in that practice. There is room also for character training in a program
6. Most important of all, a sound program of alcohol of .alcohol education. There is a place for the teaching of education must be positive: It must offer somethingg to responsibility, for building the realization that the use of young people, not merely attack and denounce. I suggest alcohol involves problems for all society. January.February;l949 19
Editorials
Cover ing appeals that ever has been received by this writer. We Pictured on our cover page is a scene common to air present it for its worth, hoping that our readers will pass evacuation bases and fields where chaplains meet all in- on its message of humanity to their congregations. This coming and outgoing hospital planes. Chaplain Albert J. particular appeal was sent to our desk by Karnell, Base Chaplain, Bolling Field, Washington, D. C., THE CHURCH WORLD SERVICE is spreading the gospel of cheer to an evacuee en route 214 East 21st Street, New York 10, N. Y. from Westover Field to a hospital in Georgia.
from Westover Field to a hospital in Georgia. Other agencies doing estimable work and channeling
Questionnaire Fever contributions to our needy brethren overseas are:
Active duty chaplains and civilian clergymen who are NATIONAL CATHOLIC WELFARE CONFERENCE sensitive to the responsibility of counseling and character Room 8515, 850 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. guidance have doubtless felt the almost uncontrollable and urge to "work out a questionnaire."
urge to "work out a questionnaire." AMERICAN-JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE
Now a questionnaire can be a tool of great value or a
mechanism of distraction. Carefully prepared and used 270 Madison Avenue, New York 16, N. Y.
mehaim-fWhat is the color or the creed of "HOPE"? with exquisite taste and delicacy, a clever questionnaire can tf probe the roots of many a festering sore. Thoughtlessly Look Up! Lift Up Your Heads! applied, it can handicap the true intent of a chaplain's Look Up! Lift Up Your Heads! whole ministry by creating within the subject a sense of Three verses in the twenty-first chapter of Luke stand resentment or mistrust. out today in significant clarity. This physician wrote: "And
It is believed that great care should be exerted by all there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon who are touched by the questionnaire fever. Probably the the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring best advice we could offer is "DON'T." Don't enter into of the sea and the waves, men fainting with fear and any haphazard questionnaire program. Don't probe per- with forebodings of what is coming on the world; for the sonal areas of life unless the opening is made by the sub- powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then will they ject. Don't enter the field of the psychologist, the social see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and worker, or the psychiatrist, except in very rare instances. great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, Don't start a questionnaire unless it has a rational purpose look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is and there is some possibility of that purpose being served drawing near. by it. It is difficult for the average American to understand the
We have seen questionnaires that are indelicate, offen- full meaning of that one word "redemption." We are a sive and inquisitive. We should inoculate ourselves against freeborn people and we accept our freedom as a heritage. the germ that may cause us, in our zeal for good works, We do not understand what it means to be enslaved politito distract our ministry from its prime function-that of cally. Perhaps it would be well for us to ponder the signifiserving the moral and spiritual needs of all personnel. A cance of threats to our liberty that loom upon the horizon true sense of proportion, a fine balance of effort, an equili- today-for we are beset by enemies within and without. brium in our ministry will protect us against "question- However, it is not about national or political redempnaire fever." tion that we now speak. It is, rather, a redemption that e ft is more significant to every one of us-a redemption from Color of Hope fear, from frustration in all its pitiful tragedy, and from What is the color of hope? those more insidious ills of the spirit that beset us on every There is a man--just your size, one of the thousands hand-those ills of indifference and lassitude that sap our of ragged and hungry men in Europe and Asia. He is alive moral quality. today-undernourished-no means of earning a living- Two years ago we were privileged in Washington to his home is in ruins-his family is sick-there will be no hear Bishop Dibelius, of Germany, speaking to a group means of keeping warm this winter, of clergymen. Among other things he told us that the most
That suit-half-worn through-far from shabby-hang- significant difference he had noticed between the people ing in your closet, would put hope into his heart-would of Europe in those postwar days and the people of Amergive him fresh courage to keep up the fight for recovery. ica was that the people over there walked looking down, What color is that suit-or overcoat? That is the color of bent over, searching for sticks and stones, for pieces of hope for him. It may well save his life-and thus help to cloth and paper, for the flotsam and jetsam thrown up save his family. by the tides of war that had overwhelmed that sad conWAIT A MINUTE-When you send that suit, SEND tinent; whereas the people of this land strode proudly A DOLLAR ALONG, too-it will deliver the suit and along with their heads erect and their eyes lifted up. help to feed the family. Regrettably this picture is not true in every sense of the
We have lifted the above from one of the most touch- word. For there are countless numbers of our own peo20 The Military Chaplain
FEWER DUSTY BIBLES
S EEING an unused Bible lying about in his home, a lowing its publication in 1946. The Bible, that used to apsmall boy asked his mother whose book it was. "It is pear in nothing but a sombre binding of black, can now 'God's Book," she is reported to have said. "Well," re- be found in attractive, colored bindings, appealing to the plied the boy, "don't you think we should return it? No- eye in format and readability of type. body seems to read it!" Uncounted millions of Americans listen every Sunday
Stories like the above do not apply to all the homes of in their churches to ministers reading from the Scriptures. America, according to Dr. Frederick Cropp, secretary of One of the most popular radio programs of its class, acthe American Bible Society, who has spent a considerable cording to a Hooper rating, is the half-hour broadcast on amount of time investigating just this situation. "People Sunday evening of "The Greatest Story Ever Told," based are wrong to say that while the Bible may be the world's entirely on incidents taken from the Bible. This program best seller, it is the least read book and the book that no- came on the air for its third year on September 12. It is body knows," continued Dr. Cropp. short-waved throughout the world, over the World Radio
The use of helps for reading the Bible and lists of sug- University of Boston through its three outlets.
gested Scripture passages is away above prewar years as At the last annual convention of the Rabbinical Council indicated by the figures of religious publishing houses. of America, Rabbi Uri Miller of Baltimore, Maryland, "The Bible Society alone," declared Dr. Cropp, "dis- spoke for his colleagues when he said that "the Bible is tributed last year on request more than 15,000,000 copies our greatest source of prestige. We must continue to be a of the bookmark containing a list of readings for the Bible loving and Bible studying people." World-wide Bible Reading between Thanksgiving and At a recent solemn mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral, New Christmas. In addition the list was reprinted more than York, one of the Catholic staff called upon all followers 20,000,000 times. An even larger response is expected this of Christ "to read and know the Scriptures better than we year in observance of the program, which has as its theme, know any book written by any human being." The recently The Book of All Nations.' One million copies of a read- formed Spanish Biblical Society has reported in that country ing list, made up of passages to be read daily throughout greater interest among people in the reading and studying the year, were circulated also by the Bible Society." of the Bible. To help in this, the Spanish Society has disCommercial and religious publishing houses continually tributed thousands of copies of the Scriptures. Distribubring out "new" Bibles, new in the sense they contain out- tion of Protestant Scriptures is now allowed in Spain in lines, explanations and many references to help the reader English, French and German. in understanding obscure and difficult passages. The Re- This phenomenon of increased reading of the Bible is vised Standard Version of the New Testament, a version not confined to our own land. A recent visitor to Japan in the plain and direct language of today, held its place has reported seeing the Japanese reading copies of the New in the list of religious best sellers for many months, fol- Testament on park benches and while riding in buses and Strains. The Student Christian Association there operates ple who are, figuratively, looking down at the material makeshift sidewalk Bible stalls in Tokyo where the passerinconsequentials of life. There are these amqng us, in our by may secure a copy of the Scriptures, so great has been very churches, sometimes within the clergy, whose first the demand for the books. concern is material. These are they who place too great a Young people by the hundreds, in and about Tokyo, value on things. These are they who walk in terror lest meet weekly for study of the Bible, according to informatheir storehouses be thrown down. These are they who tion received by the American Bible Society from the Bible fear that their world is at an end. Society in Japan. About 120 city and student YMCA groups But there are others on whom we must place our hope. are currently meeting in Japan also, reports K. NagaAll who lift up their heads to see the spiritual value of matsu, who serves as director of a YMCA "Read-theeach thing possessed-all whose eyes see ideas and hopes, Bible" Movement which got under way fifteen months plans and aspirations for a better, happier world-all who ago, according to Religious News. Nagamatsu said many dream dreams and have visions of high ideals accom- of the groups hold their meetings in factories during lunch plished-all these have added unto them, ultimately, God. hours. The American Bible Society has not been able to
It is apparent that the day is at hand when the prophetic fill the calls for Scriptures from Japan, although it has words of Our Lord are coming true. There are signs on supplied-2,775,345 copies from July 1, 1945 to the end of the sun and moon and stars-cosmic signs that cata- June, 1948. Scripture publication is now possible in Japan clysms may strike. And these presaged cataclysms are no and the Bible Society has furnished, in addition to the longer the figmentations of wild-eyed tellers of doom. They actual books, 105 tons of Bible paper and has been asked are the product of our latest scientific experiments. They to secure 230 additional tons for editions of Japanese are the findings of men who have tapped the forces of Scriptures. equilibrium that guide our universe in its cosmic journey. In Edinburgh, it is learned, a six-year schedule is being There is fainting and fear and foreboding in the hearts launched in Scottish schools which will insure that every of men. And it is for days such as these that our faith was boy and girl will receive Scripture training "on a par with given to mankind. We must look up and lift up our heads, mathematics and languages," and "know the Bible as well because our redemption is near. as their grandfathers." January-February, 1949 21
Some Enemies Of Morale- Communism
By CHAPLAIN MARTIN H. SCHARLEMANN
their hands-to sign, or else! No Russian sovereign was
Extracted from a fuller study entitled, "Religious and judged and sentenced to death by a revolutionary court Spiritual Morale Factors," this article makes significant as Charles I was in England and Louis XVI in France. contribution to our thinking. Listed and dealt with in other As a matter of fact, before 1906 there had been no Ruschapters are the subtitles, "Prejudice," "The Soil of Totalitarianismin," and "Fascism." These subjects and the article sian parliament since 1649. And even then, after the here printed are listed as "Intellectual Enemies of Morale." specter of revolution had passed in 1906, the Duma was We are happy to bring this to our readers, reduced to a shadowy existence. It became a paper organ-THE EDITORS. ization and a debating society, but little more.
The scope of autocracy in Russia can be seen from this
statement made by Peter the Great, one of the more enLITTLE more than a hundred years ago, a French lightened Czars: "His majesty is an autocratic monarch,
nobleman, Alexis De Tocqueville, wrote these two responsible to no one for his policies; he has power and prophetic paragraphs: authority to govern his state and his lands as a Christian
Two great peoples, starting at different points, go forward to ruler according to his will and understanding." He said the same end; these are the Russians and the Americans. The this without boasting, as a true statement of his position others seem to have attained the limits that nature traced for in Russia. them; these two alone go forward in a race of which the eye Moreover, revolutionary theorists in Russia were never cannot see the limits.
To attain this end, the American relies on the strength of much interested in protecting the individual against the reason in individuals. Russia concentrates in one man all the absolutism of the Czar. On the contrary, they almost withpower of society. The one has for-his principal means of action, out exception preached what Lenin later practiced: the Liberty; the other, Servitude. Their points of departure are dif- remaking of the social order through a dictatorship of a ferent; their paths are diverse. But each of them seems called by revolutionary minority. Lenin differed from the others only a secret design of Providence to hold one day in his hands the in that he based his philosophy and techniques on Marx destinies of half the world.
and Engels and selected as his springboard to power the
This is where we stand today. Instead of one world, cause of the urban proletariat. Had it not been for the we have at least two. Today the Communist Party finds autocracy of the Czar, with its blighting effect upon indiitself in control of a country covering one-sixth of the vidual rights and liberties, the Communist dictators might surface of the earth. The resources and powers of this not have been possible. The Communist party might have nation are dynamically directed by the Marxist philosophy, found the same opposition to their program in Russia which is an intellectual system intended to answer all the which they found in the Christian West. problems of life and to control all the phases of national
existence. At the moment it is probably Communism which II. A Cultural Time-Lag constitutes the greatest threat to the morale of our people. A second very significant feature of the Soviet Union's International Fascism has been overcome for a time by past heritage is the marked time-lag in the cultural deforce of arms; but Communism has, a powerful nation in velopment of that country as compared with Europe. Durits grip and has her agents spread throughout the world ing the centuries when religion was the first concern in to extend the shadow of autocracy to the ends of the earth. men's minds in Europe, there was no Russian Thomas
To understand the Communist threat of today, there are Aquinas, Hus, Luther, Calvin, or Pascal. In fact, the most a number of things about the Soviet Union which have to serious schism in Russian Church history took place in the be taken into account before we proceed into an analysis seventeenth century when changes were introduced by one of the philosophy of this kind of totalitarianism. We must of the patriarchs into the prayer book for the purpose of note particularly two things about Russian history. bringing the Russian Church in line with other Orthodox
I. An Authoritarian Tradition groups. These changes were stubbornly resisted by those who called themselves the "Old Believers," who insisted
The first item we must keep in mind in our appreciation that the changes undermined the concept of Moscow as of the present world-struggle is the fact that throughout the Third Rome, an idea which bulks large in Russian Russian history the unlimited power of the ruler has been thinking, being based for the most part on the sentiments its most dominant feature. In the rest of Europe, there expressed in a letter by Philotheus, Hegumen of St. Eleawere usually checks on the temporal power even of the zar, to Grand Duke Ivan III, at the end of the fifteenth most arbitrary despot. There was always the Church to century: "The Church of Rome fell because of the impiety exercise some restraint in this matter. However, no Czar of the Apollinarian heresy; that of the second Rome, Conever went to Canossa, No Russian ruler ever:found him- stantinople, was smitten under the battle axes of the self faced by a group of barons with a Magna Carta in Hagarenes; but this church of the Third Rome-of thy 22 The Military ChaplAin
sovereign dominion-the Holy Catholic Apostolic Church group of highly trained revolutionaries. The Bolsheviki (sobornaia) shines over the whole universe brighter than won out, quite naturally. the sun . Two Romes have fallen and the Third stands, There was another difference in the ranks of the revoluand a fourth shall never be: thy Christian realm shall not tionaries. Some of them believed that the best way to prodevolve upon others." mote a revolution of the masses was through a world upAt any rate, the Church in Russia was weakened at the heaval. Others felt that the cause of the workers could time by this controversy and thereby lost its chance to best be served by taking over one country and making of serve as a check on Czarist autocracy. Peter the Great it an example for the workers of the rest of the world. abolished the patriarchate and placed the church under Trotsky stood for the former principle, which Stalin disthe administration of a layman, who was called the Pro- avowed in 1927. curor of Holy Synod. This state of affairs continued to The dress rehearsal for the final revolution took place prevail at least to the end of the Czarist rule in 1917. on January 22, 1905, during the unpopular war with Japan. The situation seems to have changed somewhat now. That day is called "Bloody Sunday." On that Sunday mornAccording to information from the World Council of ing, the workers of Petrograd, organized by the local Churches, the highest authority in the Russian Church of Soviet, with Trotsky as their president, made their way to today is the General Council, which meets regularly and the imperial palace with a petition for an end to the war. is composed of priests and laymen. The Patriarch of Mos- They were fired upon by the palace guards. A wave of cow is the head of the Church. Together with the Holy resentment spread through the country. Strikes were called Synod, he is in charge of Church administration. He is all over, tying up transportation and communication Then the permanent president of the Sobor. However, this Sobor, the Czar saw fit to make arrangements for the establishas well as the Council of Bishops, may not meet without ment of a parliament and the declaration of a constituthe express permission of the Government. In other words, tion. the Russian Church still suffers from Caesaro-papism. From 1905 to 1917, Lenin was abroad, chiefly in SwitzerThe Russian Church is today supported by voluntary land. It was the Germans who sent him back to Russia in contributions, by the selling of candles and of holy bread, 1917 to help organize a revolution which Germany hoped and by special donations for the upkeep of churches. All to turn to her own advantage. A bread riot developed in this is of recent date. It may indicate some progress. Petrograd in March of 1917, and not a single regiment Russia was touched very little by European currents of in the whole Russian Army could be found to fight for thought. It was drawn into the French revolution and the Czar. So a provisional government was set up under into the war with Napoleon for a short time, but the intel- Kerensky. The United States favored the new democracy lectual effects and cultural results seemed to be nothing. and lent it considerable sums of money. However, Lenin Russia has had some great thinkers, but their influence and his cohorts used the new freedom of the Kerensky was small-if for no other reason that so few people government to undermine the very democracy which had could read. However, even in the books and brochures of been established to supplant the autocracy of the Czars. these Russian thinkers, there is not much to give people Soviets were organized all over Russia. Then came the an individual sense of liberty. There was really no intel- fateful day of November 7, 1917, the day which is still ligent revolutionary leadership until Lenin came along celebrated in Russia as the anniversary of the Red revoluwith a few other disciples of Marx to form what was tion, although the uprising itself is often called the "Octocalled at that time the Russian Socialist Democratic Party. ber Revolution," because most of the plans had been laid
III; The Impending Revolution during October. Everything had been staged for the revolution by the Bolshevist Central Committee. At the right
This Russian Socialist Democratic Party held its first moment, the Communists struck all over Russia to paralyze conference at Minsk in 1898. It passed a resolution to the the nation and to seize power. effect that ",the Russian proletariat will cast off from itself In those early days, Stalin was a power behind the the yoke of autocracy in order with all the greater energy scenes. He became the first Commissar for Nationalities to continue the struggle with capitalism and with the bour- and later president of the Central Committee, thereby geoisie, until the final victory of socialism." The delegates moving himself into a key position from which he could to this convention were promptly arrested and deported seize the mantle of power as it fell from Lenin. to Siberia. Somehow many of them escaped and held fu- The revolution went through a number of phases, in ture conferences in foreign capitals, such as Brussels, Lon- which different emphases were put on varying aspects of don and Stockholm. Communism. From 1917 to 1921, the revolutionary spirit
There was a breach in the Russian Social Democratic was at its highest, despite the complete breakdown of Party at the turn of the century between the Bolsheviki almost every part of national life. From 1921 to 1929, (majority) and the Mensheviki (minority). The Men- Stalin saw fit to make some concessions to private indussheviki were more like the Liberal Socialists of Europe, tries and to the kulaks. This was called the era of the new such as the Fabians of England. They were willing to at- economic policy. This is where Trotsky turned on Stalin. tain their ends through co-operation of other liberals who These eight years were followed by a second revolution already controlled one party in the Russian Duma, name- from 1929 ,to 1933. During this time, the kulaks and the Sly, the so-called Cadet Party. But Lenin, with the majority, "NEP-men" were liquidated. The years 1934 to 1941 mark stood for a tight central discipline on the part of a small a synthesis of nationalism and socialism. This is the period January-February, 1949 23
of the new constitution (1936). Then came the war years, USSR, we must have some conception as to the present from 1941 to 1945, during which the Russians were our aims of Soviet policy. It can be stated with certainty that allies. From 1946 to date, there has been a growing ten- the Communists have adopted most of the Czarist ambi. sion between Russia and the West. We are part of this tions for expansion. There is this difference, however global struggle at this moment. The Soviets use local governments favorable to themselves
Since the revolution in 1917, there have been some very instead of imposing Moscow officials on other people, as significant changes in the Communist method of running the Czars used to do. Russia. In regard to religion, for instance, Lenin had said Like the Czars, the Soviets want to expand, not only into that it is "spiritual cocaine," echoing the famous. words of Europe and into the Far East, but also into the Middle Marx: "Religion is the opium of the people." The Bol- East where they run into direct opposition with the in. shevik revolution opened with a wholesale persecution terests of the United States and Great Britain. The Middle of the Church. The Church was considered a capitalist East today is the scene of a gigantic duel between the institution of oppression. The Soviet constitution of 1929 West and the East. Just how much is going on in this spoke only of "freedom of religious worship and anti- "cockpit," as it has been called, can be seen from the fact religious propaganda." The years from 1929 to 1933 were that when a few years ago an office in Washington which particularly hard on the Church. During that time, the was interested in news about the Middle East placed an sale of Christmas trees was forbidden and the ringing of order with a clipping service, its bill at the end of one bells in Moscow's six hundred churches was prohibited. month ran over $10,000. Moreover, the six-day work week made it impossible for The Middle East is so important to the Soviets because people to attend church, unless their day of rest happened of the oil there, because it is the center of world communi. to fall on a Sunday or a holiday. cations and transportations, and also because of the fact
The attitude of the Church itself was well expressed that the Middle East can give the Soviets what the Rusby the Metropolitan of Moscow in the words: "God sits sians have always wanted most, namely a warm water port. in the corner and waits." He waited a goodly number of As a corollary of this interest, the Soviets want a navy years, until in 1943 the Church was once more recognized big enough to compete with the United States and Great as a permissible feature of Russian life. One gets the feel- Britain. On July 2, 1938, President Kalinin said: ing, however, that the Church has become little more than "So far no one has outdone England. We have to outdo another agent for Bolshevik- expansion, particularly into her. England is the strongest capitalist country; we are the the Middle East. strongest socialist country."
It might be noted, too, that there has been a change of At that time, an official Party newspaper echoed that attitude in Russia also with respect to the institution of sentiment as follows: "The mighty Soviet power must marriage. In the early years of the revolution, divorce was have the strongest ocean and sea power in the world; the possible by the simple expedient of post-card notification. Soviet ships must be the best in the world." Since the war, Now there is great stress on the home and family. Russia has made great strides in this direction, for it capIn education, the early stages of the revolution were tured from the Germans the blueprints for long-range marked by extreme experimentalism. Now there is rigid submarines, which will make it possible for Russian discipline. Today the pupil has little choice as to what U-boats to stalk the shipping lanes of the world, if they he wants to do in school. find it necessary to do so.
Since the end of the war, the Russians have also made In everything indirection is basic to Soviet techniques. use of the idea of Pan-slavism as an instrument for tying This is based on a sentence which Lenin wrote in 1920: the Balkan states more closely to their own sphere of in- "We have to use any ruse, dodges, tricks, cunning, unlawfluence. ful method, concealment, and veiling of truth to gain our
Through all this, however, one thing has remained con- ends." For that reason, we can never be sure as to what stant. Russia is controlled and directed by and for the the Communists are up to. They use the Cominform to Communist Party, whose Central Committee is called the further their interests in Europe and the Near East. A Politburo and consists of fourteen men. This means that duplicate organization has been established in Asia, where all cultural activities are under the direct control of the Burma is already lost to the Communists, and Ghina is in Communist Party, which, in fact, represents less than two very definite danger of becoming a prey to Russian exper cent of the people in Russia. pansion. Everywhere Communists use what has been deThe phrases of the 1936 constitution which speak of scribed as "termite tactics"; that is, they try to take over freedom of speech and of the press are hardly to be taken countries not by direct military invasion, but by social and seriously. Also quite illusory is the assurance to each con- political infiltration. This is what makes the present constituent republic of a right to secede from the USSR. Seces- flict so difficult and so desperate for us. sion was tried by the Ukrainians and was put down with The chief battle rages in the realm of ideas. The conextreme violence, for the Communists always operate on flict between West and East is basically a moral one. That the principle once expressed by Lenin when he said that is why we must now turn to a consideration of the philosOhe would allow all kinds of different parties, provided phy, or creed, which makes Communists behave the way the Communists were in power and all others were in jail. they do.
IV. The Present Conflict V. The Witches' Brew
To grasp the scope of our present conflict with the One question often puzzles people. This one: What 24 .The Military Chaplain
makes men become Communists? These past years have ciple of conflict and struggle occupies a more central place demonstrated that Bolshevism has a remarkable capacity in the Marx system than does materialism. It replaces the for inspiring loyalty and self-sacrifice in its adherents. This belief that there is a natural harmony of interests. success is due, in part, to the bold claim of Communism You can see from this how impossible is the notion that that it is the source of basic principles binding on every somehow the West and the East could sit down at a conform of human activity, including the functions of the ference table and iron out the problems of the world. The State. Bolshevism in other words enjoys the status of a man who believes that flux is the ultimate reality, and creed. It has persuaded people that it has the answers to that struggle is of the essence of history, does not speak all the problems of life. We may well ask, therefore: the same language as we do. We believe that peace is theWhat is the nature of this creed? one condition ultimately to be achieved. The Marxist is
An analysis will reveal that Marxism is compounded of convinced that class struggle is necessary and desirable. three major ingredients; namely, materialism, dialecticism Belief in never-ending flux should logically eliminate a and moral relativism. faith in anything absolute. That would be good logic; but
A. Materialism it is poor psychology. And Marx was not a poor psyMaterialism has been associated in modern times with chologist. Here we run into what is sometimes spoken of
Materialism has been associated i modern tatimes withra- as the Great Contradiction in Marxism. At this point, the tradition of revolution. Combined with the static ra- Marxist philosophy teaches that this unending struggle tionalism of the eighteenth century, it served as the phi- moves forward along certain lines which can be deterlosophy of the French Revolution. Mixed with the dia- mined by rational investigation. Marxism has derived an lectical rationalism of Hegel, it gave birth to that Marxism enormous amount of strength from its conviction that it which provides the philosophical foundations of the Rus- can predict the results of the historical process. To be sure, can predict the results of the historical process. To be sure,
sian Revolution.
sMarxism teaches that the ultimate reality is material in one respect, Marxist prophecies went completely awry; Marxism teaches that the ultimate reality is material they did not predict the rise of Fascism. However, that and, above all, economic. Engels wrote: does not disturb the Marxist of today. He believes in the
"Men make their own history, but in the given environ- inevitability of the historical process. He does so because the ounatin o exant inevitability of the historical process. He does so because inent in which they live, upon the foundation of extant Marx and Lenin often deified history. Consequently, what relations. Among these relations, economic relations . is right is to "climb. on the band wagon" and assist history are those whose actions are ultimately decisive, forming in the development along its predestined lines; what is a red thread which runs through all the other relationships wrong is to oppose or impede that process. The victory of and enables us to understand them. the proletariat, being historically inevitable, is of necesMaterialism is a reaction against the idealism which be- sity morally right. Like other totalitarian philosophies, lieves in spiritual values and pure ideas as the ultimate Bolshevism tends to justify the means by the end. If the reality. Translated into political terms, materialism attacks end is absolute, nothing that serves this end can be morally the privileged classes by insisting that a preoccupation condemned. with men's souls masks a neglect of the needs of men's
bodies. Its crassest formulation was once made by Gandhi C. Moral relativism who said: "God Himself could not appear to many of my This emphasis on history leads to the third ingredient people except in 'the form of a loaf of bread." of the witches' brew; namely, its relativism. The laws of
The reaction of materialism has made men think more the social sciences are imbedded in history and conditioned
The reaction of materialism has made men think more
of the physical standard of living than they did when this by it. This means that what is true of one period of hisphilosophy first rose to challenge Christianity in the French tory is not true of another. This teaching dissolves some Revolution. We have come quite a distance within the last of the basic conceptions which we accept in our way of two hundred years from the position which even the life as being true at all times. Church could be accused of in places, namely, confining Marxism insists that these ideas change with the hisoneself to "pie in the sky, by and by." This aspect of torical context, particularly with changes in the relations Marxism is not new to it. What is new, however, is the of productive forces. There is no such thing as democracy hitching of the creed of materialism to the dialectic phi- in the abstract, from the Marxist point of view. The nalosophy of Hegel. ture of democracy depends upon the historical development of the society in which it is established. Moreover,
B. Dialecticism conceptions like freedom and justice remain abstract and
According to the doctrine of the dialectic philosophers, formal (therefore useless) until it has been decided what the world moves forward through continuous interplay the historical setting is to which these words are applied. and conflict of ideas. One idea, or thesis, is contradicted This relativism is the most disruptive weapon in Marxist by its antithesis, and out of this struggle comes victory, warfare. It can be used to dissolve all the absolute ideas not for the thesis nor for the antithesis but for a new on which our way of life seeks to base its moral superiorproduct called the synthesis. This synthesis becomes the ity. Law is law in the abstract, says the Marxist. It is nothnew thesis, and the process of contradiction starts all over ing more than a set of concrete rules enacted by an ecoagain. nomic class in the interest of self-preservation. Equality
This state of flux is believed to be the ultimate reality, in the abstract is purely formal. "One man, one vote," does Marx adopted this philosophy and made it apply to the not insure actual equality in a society where one voter may conflict 'of classes and their material interests. This prin- be a millionaire and another a pauper; even equality beJanuary-Februqry, 1949 25
fore the law may be pure mockery when the law is framed stituting sociology for history. This is the creed of the and administered by members of the privileged class. Free- trained Communist, and you can see why he becomes a dom itself can be equally formal. Freedom to choose or fanatic and why he is a dangerous enemy to our way of reject a job is unreal if a man is free to refuse and his only life. alternative is starvation. Freedom of opinion is nullified, Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt once remarked in her colif social and professional pressures make a certain set of umn, "My Day," that she knew a number of Communists opinions profitable to hold while another set suffers from but that none of them carried guns. They do not need to. economic boycott. Freedom of the press and assembly are Their philosophy is destructive enough to make shooting illusions, if the press and the market place are controlled unnecessary very frequently. by the men of money. In this way the absolute values of No matter how much we may decry the inroads of liberal democracy are undermined and eaten away by Marxism, with its destructive effects on our morale, we Marxist principles, must, nevertheless, give due credit to the Russian revoluHowever, the inroads of relativism go even deeper. If tion for the fact that it compelled our world to concensociety is motivated and conditioned by material (eco- trate on the problem of emancipating the industrial work. nomic) forces, then the thoughts and actions of individual er. The Communist answer of reducing the worker to the members are also so influenced. In the last analysis, there- status of a member in an economic class is morally wrong. fore, Marxism deprives the individual of his individuality Yet we ourselves are forced to furnish some kind of anand makes him the member of a class, for his thinking is swer to that problem. conditioned by his social situation, and that situation is It is very difficult, this matter of preserving and regardagain determined by the stage reached in the historical ing the individual as such, and still solving the problems process. created by a complex industrial revolution. The answer of
This is a most deadly weapon. If pressed home to its Marxism is a social one. We counter it with an emphasis logical conclusions, it leads to the rejection of all absolute on the political aspects of the situation. The conception truth, or, of all human capacity to know truth, for the of social justice, as proclaimed by the Marxists, however, Communist Manifesto insists: "Intellectual production is not exhausted by the political ideal of equality and juschanges with material production and the ruling ideas of tice. It has been said with more than a grain of truth that any particular age have always been merely the ideas of the ideal of the Communist revolution is neither, liberty its ruling class." nor equality, but fraternity. That is to say, the Communist
This is the essence of the revolutionary philosophy of doctrine proposes an answer to the basic problem which Marxism. It attacks at their root the values on which the plagues men today, namely, the feeling of being utterly moral authority of our way of life is based. The menace alone, as living entirely apart from the community. Our of the Marxist revolution is not that it has exposed the answer will have to be just as effective if we are to win failures and shortcomings of the West, but that it has this conflict between liberty on the one hand and servitude called in question the moral authority of the ideals and on the other. principles of Western democracy by declaring them to be How much of the individualism of our past can be emno more than a reflection of the interests of a privileged bodied in the life of tomorrow, with its problems of mass class. The really serious thing about the present world civilization, is one of the unsolved problems with which struggle is not so much that Communism has inflamed the we wrestle. It would seem that the Western world will resentments of the underprivileged against the existing have to develop a stronger sense of the individual's duty orders, but rather that it has undermined the self-con- to society, and the Soviet Union must create a stronger fidence of the privileged by sapping their own faith in sense of obligation in society to the individual. The Soviet objective morality, leaders are aware of this problem; they have repeatedly
It is hardly necessary to point out how much we have expressed themselves on the subject of the danger of been affected by the frontal attack of Marxist philosophy. "depersonalization." In the Western world, the individWe speak of the twentieth century sometimes as the age ualistic tradition is so strong that we often approach the of the "common man," while the New Dealers used to problems of an industrial civilization with mistrust and speak of the "forgotten man"; both expressions are an dislike. This does not help us, for this is no answer to the eloquent commentary on the extent to which we have been problem. The age-long problem of the individual in soinfluenced by the tenets of Marx. ciety and of the relation of society to the individual is once
Moreover, we have all just lived through an era of de- more on the agenda of history. We shall not escape it. bunking, even to the point that the debunker himself found We shall have to find an answer within the framework himself debunked. This was possible because the tech- of the Christian West, or perish. niques of debunking proceed from the principle that the
individual has no independent validity, but that he is the 18th ANNUAL CONVENTION product of his environment in a given historical situation. and Moreover, under the impact of Marxism, the study of his- TRAINING CONFERENCE tory has been replaced by an interest in sociology. If the MORRISON HOTEL eighteenth century rationalist substituted philosophy for CHICAGO, ILLINOIS religion and Hegel substituted history for philosophy, the MAY 10-13, 1949 Marxist revolution carried it one step farther by sub26 The Military Chaplain
Jewish Chaplains
During The
Civil War*
By
RABBI BERTRAM W. KORN
First Jewish Army Chaplain
T HE American tradition of the military chaplaincy is chaplains was ever discussed prior to the Civil War, but
Sas old as the United States itself. Clergymen served once that fratricidal conflict had begun, with thousands of with the armies of the individual colonies almost from the Jews enlisting in the Armies of both the Union and Confirst battle of the Revolution, and provisions for the pay- federacy,2 it was inevitable that these members of a minorment of chaplains were enacted by the Continental Con- ity faith would press for their right to be served by clergygress as early as 1775. The first regular army chaplain men who could truly minister to their spiritual needs. The was commissioned in 1781, immediately following due personal liberties and civil rights of members of all reauthorization by Congress in its legislation for a second ligious minorities had been safeguarded by a Constitution regiment to supplement the small national military estab- which carefully separated church from nation, although lishment. From then on, post and brigade chaplains were states like North Carolina lagged far behind in their apan accepted feature of the army table of organization. plication of this principle to their internal politics. The
These chaplains were all Protestants, though of varying chaplaincy was, however, another realistic test of the denominations. The possible service of Roman Catholic equality which the Federal government theoretically acchaplains received no official attention until the time of corded to all American citizens. the Mexican War, when President Polk held several con- In the Confederacy, this equality was apparently recogferences on the subject with members of the American nized immediately upon the outbreak of hostilities. The church hierarchy. Polk's suggestion that the bishops ap- acts providing for the appointment of chaplains in the point two priests to serve with the army in a civilian ca- Confederate military establishment merely stipulated that pacity was adopted, but he apparently had no intention of they should be "clergymen," with no denominational recommending them for military appointments. During specifications? There was probably not a sufficient numthe 1850's Catholic priests served several military posts
in the capacity of chaplain, but their official status is open See statistics and lists of Jews in the Union and Confederate armies and to question. It was actually not until the Civil War that nae in Simon Wolf, The American Jew as Patriot, Soldier and Citizen, Philadelphia 1895.
Catholic priests were explicitly granted the right to serve 'Journal of the Congress of the Confederate States of America 1861as army chaplains.' 1865, Washington 1904, II, pp. 160, 196. Ella Lonn (Foreigners in the Confederacy, Chapel Hill 1940, p. 265) erroneously refers to the Rev.
There is no evidence that the legal status of Jewish Jacob Frankel, who will be discussed later in this essay, as a Confederate chaplain. Miss Lonn obviously misread a vague phrase in the authority which
*Printed by permission of "American Jewish Archives." she cites, Mrs. Townes R. Leigh, "The Jews in the Confederacy," Southern See The United States Army Chaplaincy (War Department Pamphlet Historical Society Papers XXXIX, p. 178, where it is not clearly stated 16-1), Wa hington 1946, for a detailed study of the historical development that Frankel was a Union chaplain. No rabbi is known to have served as of the Army Chaplaincy. a chaplain in the Confederate Army. Jatihary-February, 1949 27
ber of Jews in any one Confederate regiment to warrant For all that Vallandigham, Wise, and the few others the election of a Jewish chaplain, but at least there was no who were interested, knew, the question of the Jewish legal barrier to such an appointment, chaplaincy would remain a theoretical one. Wise himself
In this instance the Confederate Congress was more had no inclination for personal military service since he liberal and tolerant than its Washington counterpart, and was totally antagonistic to the purposes of the war. Forit was in the North that the storm broke over the right tunately for America and the Jew, however, the question of Jewish soldiers to chaplains of their own faith. The did not remain a theoretical one and was not permitted original Volunteer Bill, as reported to the floor of the to die for lack of excitement and interest. House, required that regimental chaplains, who were to In September, 1861, less than three months after the be "appointed by'the regimental commander on the vote House had refused to sanction the service of Jewish chapof the field officers and company commanders present," lains, a YMCA worker happened to -visit the military camp be "regularly ordained minister[s] of some Christian de- in Virginia where the 65th Regiment of the 5th Pennsylnomination."' On July 12, 1861, in a discussion of this vania Cavalry, popularly known as "Cameron's Draproviso, an Ohio Congressman moved an amendment goons," was temporarily stationed. He was horrified to which would substitute the phrase "religious society" for discover that a Jew, one Michael Allen of Philadelphia, the objectionable words "Ghristian denomination." The was serving as the regimental chaplain, and promptly beCongressman was Clement L. Vallandigham who was later gan such an agitation in the public press that ultimately the to become notorious for his leadership of the Copperhead Assistant Adjutant General of the Arnmy, George D. Rugmovement and who was eventually arrested by military gles, was forced to state in writing his official warning order and exiled across the Confederate border. Apparent- that "any person mustered into service as a chaplain, who ly on his own initiative and without any Jewish prompt- is not a regularly ordained clergyman of a Christian deing, he spoke out clearly in defense of Jewish rights, nomination, will be at once discharged without pay or "There is a large body of men in this country, and one allowance."'7 Allen felt so humilated that he resigned his growing continually, of the Hebrew faith," he said, "whose commission on the excuse of ill health rather than suffer rabbis and priests are men of great learning and piety, and the dishonor of dismissal from the service, but the clamor whose adherents are as good citizens and as true patriots raised by the zealous YMCA worker brought the issue beas any in this country." Amplifying his remarks, he de- fore the public once again.8 nounced the underlying implication of the bill that the Obviously, Allen had been elected without any deliberate United'States is a Christian country, in the political sense, intention on the part of his regiment's colonel and officers and branded the law as entirely unjust and completely to disobey the law. They were probably ignorant of the "without constitutional warrant."' Vallandigham's appeal Congressional bill which forbade them to designate a failed to move his fellow members of the House, or per- Jewish chaplain for their regiment even though the Comhaps they paid no attention to his comments. At any rate, manding Officer, Colonel Max Friedman, and a large prothey rejected his amendment and passed the bill with its portion of his officers and 1,200 men were Jewish.' And discriminatory clause intact. Allen had been a very fitting choice for the office. Born in
This brief episode attracted very little notice. But per- Philadelphia, November 24, 1830, he was, from childhaps because he also was an Ohioan and a member of the hood, a pupil of the Rev. Isaac Leeser, the leading spokesDemocratic Party, Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise did grasp its man of American traditional Judaism, and for a time he significance. He labeled the qualification clause an "unjust undertook to follow, under his rabbi's guidance, a reguviolation of our constitutional rights" and applauded Mr. lar course of study for the Jewish ministry. Even after he Vallandigham for his staunch advocacy of the American abandoned this ambition, and unlike many other erstwhile conception of equality. But Wise was more furious than rabbinical students, he remained close to Jewish affairs imaginative and had no constructive suggestion to offer
to remedy the situation. His fear of dictatorship and of
militarism ran away with his confidence in democratic ac- indicates that its editors were not oblivious to the problem, but had failed tion, and he could only urge his readers to remember this to comment upon it because they were convinced that it was an overdeliberate act of injustice and to hold their indignation in sight and that "no discrimination against our co-religionists, was in any way intended, and . that Congress, at its next session, will modify
check until the end of the war, when surely they would be the act." Obviously the father and son editorial team, Samuel M. and free to "square accounts."6 Myer S. Isaacs, were either ignorant of the facts or blind to their meaning: Vallandigham's motion was defeated-the House had acted deliberately.
"War of the Rebellion: . Official Records of the Union and Con- 'Philadelphia Sunday Dispatch, October 20, 1861. There were unfederate Armies, Washington 1880-1901, III, I, p. 154. (Hereafter ab- doubtedly many other cases in which the appointment of chaplains of breviated as WROR). minority faiths was attacked publicly. Carl Sandburg, in Abraham Lincoln: 'Congressional Globe, Washington 1861, 37th Congress, First Session, The War Years, New York 1939, II, p. 230, records the visit to Washingp. 100. Vallandigham later took pleasure in reminding his fellow Con- ton of a delegation of Philadelphia clergymen to urge Lincoln not to apgressmen that he had called the injustice of this measure to their attention point a certain Universalist minister as chaplain, because "he believes that months before they were deluged with protests from their constituents: even rebels themselves will be finally saved." ibid, Second Session, Part I, pp. 156-7. "His resignation was accepted on September 2.6. Special orders No. 79, eThe Israelite VIII, No. 3, p. 23, July 19, 1861. Perhaps this was yet Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, in Records of the War Department, another reason for Wise's unabating opposition to the Republican admin- Office of the Adjutant General, Volume 403, Orders and Special Orders, istration and his mounting loyalty to the Democratic Party. Wise was will- in the National Archives. ing to stand as Democratic nominee for State Senator in Ohio in the same 'Wolf, op. cit., pp. 484-5. The law was passed only a few days before election of 1863 in which Vallandigham was narrowly defeated for the Allen enlisted (July 18, 1861, according to Records of the Veterans Ad gubernatorial office. See this writer's essay on "Isaac Mayer Wise on the ministration, WO 1204831, in the National Archives). The officers could Civil War" in Hebrew Union College Annual XX, Cincinnati 1947. An hardly have known of the prohibitory clause. New York Tribune, October editorial in the Jewish Messenger (X, No. 9, p. 68) on November 1, 1861, 31, 18.61. 28 The Military Chaplain
iKz.
Michael M. Allen Bernard H. Gotthelf Ferdinand L. Sarner
and preserved his relationship with Leeser. He taught at 8 o'clock. Lectured on 'Peace and Harmony.' All the officers passes for the Philadelphia Hebrew Education Society, and companies were present under command of Lieut. Col. Becker, and they all in their uniform looked very well.' '12
and substituted for Leeser as Hazan (Cantor) in the conduct of services, when that frequent traveler was out of On that Jewish holiday, filled with remembrances of town. The Rev. Samuel M. Isaacs, editor of the Jewish the pain of exile and the destruction of Jewish statehood, Messenger, wrote a few years later that Allen was "the the chaplain preached a message about friendship and only gentleman not actually a minister, accustomed and consideration to his men; without a single indication of able to read the entire ritual according to the Portuguese the meaning of the day in his own religious thinking! minhag [rite]. He really deserves credit for the alacrity Indeed, one who reads over the manuscript copies of with which he has always responded to . calls [to act his sermons, preserved by his family, would never know as Hazan], having frequently officiated at the Franklin they were written by a devout Jew. Of course, there is no street and Seventh street Synagogues of Philadelphia, and reference to Christianity or its central figure, but neither occasionally at the 19th street Synagogue of N. Y."10 As is there any reference to the most pivotal of Jewish cona layman, Allen took a further leading role in Jewish cepts. Theologically, his sermons approached the various communal affairs, and served as secretary to both the aspects of religion: immortality, ethics, faith, from a genUnited Hebrew Beneficial Society and the Hebrew Educa- eral and common Judaeo-Christian background. They were tion Society." realistic, practical, down-to-earth talks, designed to touch the most basic problems of men stationed only a few miles
Surely there was no one in the entire regiment better from the battle-front: fear, restlessness, doubt, and homeequipped by training as well as inclination to serve as its sickness. Chaplain Allen spoke of faith in God, "our shield chaplain. During the two months of his service, Allen and our buckler . in the hour of battle, of danger, was not a Jewish chaplain, but the regimental chaplain and of tribulation." He urged them to prepare for the for men of all faiths. On the New Year, the Day of Atone- strife by learning the arts of the soldier as conscientiously ment, and the Feast of Tabernacles, as well as on the Jew- as they could, because theirs was a "good and just cause ish Sabbath, he went to Washington or Philadelphia to . to save our country from the hands of the spoiler;" attend services. But on Sundays, he held his nondenomi- but he also pleaded for a spiritual preparation for the national services, consisting of brief Scriptural readings death that surely faced some of them. Never discussing and a hymn or two, as well as a sermon. An entry in his political issues as such, he nevertheless took care that they diary for Sunday, September 8, 1861, reads came to have some understanding of his conviction that the Union was in danger, that the Confederacy was a
"Arose at 52 am. Very cool, pleasant and invigorating. 'Fast tsh
of Gedaliah.' Did not fast, not feeling able to do so. Had service 'P. 5 of an eleven-page diary kept by Allen during the weeks his regiment was encamped near Washington, in the possession of Mrs. Clarence
Michael Allen of New York, daughter-in-law of M. M. Allen. Dr. David
"lewish Messenger XIX, No. 23, p. 4, June 15, 1866. de Sola Pool of Congregation Shearith Israel of New York will present a 111' ibid X, No. 7, p. 52, October 4, 1861; Henry S. Morais, The Jews of paper on the diary as a whole at a future meeting of the American Jewish ailadelphia, Philadelphia 1894, p. 245. Historical Society. Jnuary-February, 1949 29
rebellion against the Constitution, and that their erst- men to the office of chaplain plagued War Department while fellow-Americans were now their deadly foes. He officials and thoughtful Protestant leaders all during the never avoided the most difficult subjects: desertion, sex, war. It was a subject which obtained recognition and ref. obedience to superiors, the evils of camp life, but tried erence in many investigation reports and exposes. The as best he could to impart a reasonable, loyal, and high Paymaster General of the Army, for instance, wrote to ethical attitude to his men. Reverence for Deity and Senator Henry Wilson of Massachusetts on December 5, love of Scripture infused every sermon with a warmth 1861 that: and humanity which must truly have "endeared him to
all." Those were words used by his friend, Alfred T. Jones, "I regret to say that very many holding this position [of chap. who gave an address when the regimental colors were pre- lainj are utterly unworthy . I think none should be appointed sented to Col. Friedman by a group of Philadelphia Jews who did not come recommended by the highest ecclesiastical auin a formal ceremony on September 10. Jones said further, thority . It is said one regiment employs a French cook, and i f a r y S m 1J s f h musters him as chaplain to meet the expense . ",o in the ornate fashion of his day, that Allen "taught the
Word of God with pure unadulterated piety; he breathed
into the ears of his hearers no sectarian hatred toward Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise took great delight in quoting others, but labored zealously for their moral and spiritual the assertion of a Presbyterian journal that "two thirds of welfare.",, b the chaplains in the army are unfit for their place,"' and
Inap g n me offered his own personal testimony that at least two proIn a passage of one sermon, Allen presented his own fessed atheists of his acquaintance were serving as chapconception of some of the duties of the chaplain: lains.18 One of Lincoln's private secretaries, W. O. Stod
a ~~~~~~~~~~~~dard, chagdta iiaycaliswrfrtems
"I [must be] as one of you . I must share with you, the dard, harged that military chaplains were, for the most pleasures and privations of a soldier's life, and I trust that I shall part, "broken down 'reverends,' long since out of the minbe able to gain the esteem and confidence of each and, every one istry for incompetency or other causes, men who could not of you . [Since] there are many of you who are good and loyal induce any respectable church to place itself under their adopted citizens of this our country, and as there are amongst charge," and quoted Lincoln's angry comment that "I do you those not very well conversant with the English language, I believe that our army chaplains, take them as a class, are wish you to consider me as your Teacher, and during your leisure s hours in camp, should you wish to perfect yourself in the ver- the worst men we have in the service."ls nacular language of this county, I will be glad and willing to Colonel Friedman and his officers were undoubtedly impart all the necessary information which my time and abilities distressed by this valid legal objection which complicated will permit." their determination to be served by a Jewish chaplain. They
To teach, to inspire, in his own humble way-this was now realized that Allen would have had no right to serve Allen's purpose in serving as substitute Rabbi, and as as chaplain even if the law could be stretched to permit military chaplain. The "Cameron's Dragoons" were de- Jews to be elected to that position. So they resolved to try prived of a sincere and superior religious mentor when again. This time they would elect an ordained rabbi, but Michael Mitchell Allen was forced to resign his office. they would also take the precaution of electing a civilian
On the other hand, we must not overlook the fact that who would not so easily be frightened into resigning, and
On the other hand, we must not overlook the fact that wowudaeoapydrcl oteSceayo a
Allen was disqualified from serving as chaplain for two who would have to apply directly to the Secretary of War for a commission. This would indeed be a test case which
reasons: he was not a Christian, it is true, but neither was would determine whether discriminatory legislation against
he a "rglryodielrymn"Ee, ne h e would determine whether discriminatory legislation against he a "regularly ordained clergyman." Even under the re- the Jews was to be enforced with the full knowledge and vised provisions of the following year which permitted consent of the government and the people. Colonel Frie rabbis to enter the military service, Allen would still have consent of the government and the people. Colonel Friedbeen ineligible. An unknown Philadelphian, writing a man lost no time in selecting the Rev. Arnold Fischel of bee .nlgbe nukonPiaepin rtn New York City as the regiment's chaplamn-designate. This
"letter to the editor" in an effort to clarify the issue which New York City as the regiment's chaplain-designate. Thish he felt had been unjustly confounded by accusations of was Mr. Fischel's introduction to the cause celebre in which he felt had been unjustly confounded by accusations of.p
intolerance, insisted that Allen's appointment had been he participated for many months. His service in the Pocalled into question not because of his faith but because tomac area as a civilian chaplain, and his lobbying activihe was "a liquor dealer . doubtless a very worthy man, ties in the nation's capital as the representative of the but no clergyman." Board of Delegates of the American Israelites, have been
but no clergyman. known for a long time, but the motivation behind his apThis editorial correspondent was not attempting to plication for a commission has never been explained bewhitewash the War Department. Great as their excite- fore.9 The simple truth is that he sought the commission ment about Allen had been, the original letter from the
YMCA had not complained about him but about "a num- '"WROR III, I, p. 728. ber of Chaplains in our Pennsylvania regiments [who] "'Presbyterian Banner, cited in The Israelite IX, No. 2, p. 14, July 11, are entirely disqualified . for the high and important 1862.
' The Israelite, VIII, No. 6, p. 45, August 9, 1861; No. 9, p. 70, August
position to which they have been raised;"'" and Ruggles' 30, 1861. letter nowhere specified the Allen case, although it un- Saw. o. Stoddard, "White House Sketches," New York Citizen, Octoincluded it. Indeed, the election of nonclergy- ber 6, 1866, quoted in David R. Barbee, "President Lincoln and Doctor doubtedly included it. Indeed, the election of nonclergy- Gurley," Abraham Lincoln Quarterly, March 1948, p. 7.
"Jewish Messenger X, No. 12, p. 93, December 13, 1861, and various
'In a letter to the Philadelphia Sunday Dispatch, October 20, 1861. items in the Board of Delegates of American Israelites correspondence files "Philadelphia Sunday Dispatch, October 27, 1861. in the library of the American Jewish Historical Society (notably Letter 'Philadelphia Enquirer, October 12, 1861, p. 8. 37 from Myer S. Isaacs, Secretary of the Board, to the Rev. Fischel, Noven 30 The Military Chaplain
after his election by the officers of the regiment, in order This representative body had met on August 19, the letter to test the law and to secure a public statement about said, and discussed the hospital problem. Two soldiers of Jewish rights in the matter. His application was denied, the Jewish faith had already died without the consolation of course, and ironically, the letter of rejection (warm and of prayers by a Jewish clergyman, and, since Philadelphia friendly as it was) was signed by the very same Simon was increasingly becoming "a central depository for sick Cameron, Secretary of War, in whose honor the "Cam- and wounded soldiers," more and more Jewish men would eron's Dragoons" was recruited and named.20 To be fair be sent to those hospitals. Although the Board had now to Cameron, we must understand that he had not dictated contacted the hospital officials and were assured that their the law and that he had no choice about obeying it-but Secretary, the Rev. Isaac Leeser, would be notified of the now there was no possible doubt of the interpretation of admission of Jewish wounded, they nevertheless believed the law, and American Jewry had to recognize it. it advisable that a Jewish chaplain be officially appointed,
These, then, are the circumstances: The illegal election and they suggested further that he be assigned not only of Allen; the expose by the YMCA; Allen's chagrined to the Philadelphia hospitals but also to those located in resignation; then :the election of Fischel as a test case; "York, Harrisburg, Chester, and other towns at not too and, finally the rejection of his application on the basis great a distance."22 of the discriminatory clause. This was the chain of events John Hay, Secretary to Mr. Lincoln, wrote Leeser on which confronted American Jewry in late 1861 with the September 6 that the President "recognizes the propriety first instance of outright discrimination and legal inequity of your suggestion, and will appoint a chaplain of your in the nation's history. It was a realistic situation, not a faith if the Board will designate a proper person for the theoretical one, and it demanded a realistic solution. We purpose." The Board of Ministers was called to conference shall not take the time here to chronicle and evaluate the again, and after deliberating on the relative merits of lobbying campaign which lasted for almost a year and their varied membership, selected the Rev. Jacob Frankel, involved political pressures and techniques of every known minister of Rodeph Shalom Congregation of Philadelphia, variety (and which also revealed the alarming degree to then fifty-four years old, as their nominee for the comwhich anarchy and indifference prevailed within American mission. The President was informed of this action and Jewry). Suffice it to say that, in July of 1862, Congress Frankel's commission arrived a few days later, duly signed finally modified the chaplaincy requirements so that any by the President, together with all the requisite papers and "regularly ordained minister of some religious denomi- directions.23 Thus, on September 18, 1862, Jacob Frankel nation" might, with the proper recommendations and became the first American rabbi to be appointed a military qualifications, seek appointment as a chaplain." This chaplain. was, to the writer's knowledge, the first major victory of The Rev. Frankel was a native of Griinstadt, Bavaria, a specifically Jewish nature won by American Jewry in -a where he was born on July 5, 1808. His family was one matter touching the Federal government. But it was more 'with a long musical tradition, and, at an early age, he set than a Jewish victory and certainly more than the recog- out on his first concert tour, through the Alsace-Lorraine nition of a blunder by Congress and the erasure of a mis- district, with two brothers. His first position as cantor was take. Because there were Jews in the land who cherished in his native town. He next went to Mainz, where he rethe equality granted them in the Constitution, the practice mained for a number of years. In 1848, he applied for and of the equality was assured, not only for Jews, but for all was elected to, the position of Minister of Rodeph Shalom minority religious groups. And Michael Allen, an innocent Congregation of Philadelphia. A pleasant and popular victim of national carelessness, was the direct cause of that man, blessed with a stirring voice and a kindly disposition, democratic victory, the Rev. Frankel was greatly beloved by his congregation, I I and served it well until his retirement from the active ministry a year before his death on January 12, 1887.
In July of 1862, then, it was permissible for rabbis to ap- Contemporary descriptions of his gentle character and ply for commissions in either of two categories: as regi- mild manner render it easy to understand why his fellow mental chaplains, or as members of the newly organized rabbis selected him from among their number to be honhospital chaplaincy. And, as might be predicted, it was ored with the chaplaincy assignment. Further evidence of not long before President Lincoln received a communi- his popularity can be discovered in the results of a goodcation in this regard-a month later, to be explicit. It was humored election, in 1866, for the most popular rabbi in a petition from the Board of Ministers of the Hebrew Con- Philadelphia, incidental to a raffle to raise money for the gregations of Philadelphia, requesting the appointment new Jewish hospital. The Rev. Frankel's friends bought of a Jewish hospital chaplain for the Philadelphia area. so many tickets that he had more votes than all the other ministers combined.24 (Continued in next issue.)
be 27, 1861) establish the authenticity of his appointment by the officers
of the regiment. Some of Fischel's activities are chronicled in the mis- 'The Occident XX, No. 7, pp. 325-28, October, 1862.
aned article by Myer S. Isaacs, "A Jewish Army Chaplain," in Publications 'aIbid. The appointment was signed by the President on September 10, tof the American Jewish Historical Society No. 12 (1904), pp. 127-137. The and forwarded by the Surgeon General on September 15. Records of the Rev. Fischel's contract as lecturer at the Shearith Israel Synagogue in New War Department, Ofice of the Adjutant General, in the National Archives. s York was about to expire on October 31, 1861, and was not expected to The commission printed on p. 13 was sent to Frankel two years later
s renewed. He was, therefore, seeking a new position. Shearith Israel when his appointment was renewed.
rTSutees' Minutes VI, p. 447, passim. "Morais, op. cit., pp. 73-4; Edward Davis, The History of Rodeph
. Jewish Messenger X, No. 12, p. 93, December 13, 1861. Shalom Congregation, Philadelphia 1802-1926, Philadelphia 1926, pp.
iVROR III, I, p. 154; III, III, pp. 175-6. 61, 98-100.
SJnuary-February, 1949 31
Some Facts About the National Presbyterian Church,
Washington, D. C.
Visitors to The National Presbyterian Church will be interested in the following points of historical interest. The President's Pew, No. 33, from the Old First Presbyterian Church, bearing the name plate of "The President," is located to the right of the pulpit and was occupied by Presidents Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, Franklin Pierce (1853), Grover Cleveland, as well as Vice-President Colfax.
Pew No. 43 was occupied by President Benjamin Harrison from 1889 to 1893. The present Church was opened during the week of President Harrison's inauguration. He engaged the pew the first week and occupied it and worshipped in it during his administration.
Pew No. 32, from the Old First Presbyterian Church,
now located at the left front of the present Church building, was occupied by General Ulysses S. Grant, General of the Armies, 1868.
Pew No. 61 was occupied by President Franklin D.
Roosevelt at one Thanksgiving Day service, and at four President Truman and Dr. Edward L. R. Elson before the consecutive Christmas Day services, historical plaque of The National Presbyterian Church.
The Communion Table and Lectern are made from
wood from the Cedars of Lebanon in Palestine. pastors who have served in the pulpits of the First PresbyIn the Church Hall will be seen the pulpit from which terian Church and the Church of the Covenant are: Dr. men of eminence have spoken including Henry Clay, John Brackenridge, Dr. Byron Sunderland (intimate friend Daniel Webster, Dr. J. Henry Jowett, Dr. T. DeWitt of Lincoln), Dr. T. DeWitt Talmadge and Dr. Donald Talmadge, Dr. Henry Ward Beecher, Hon. William Jen- McLeod. nings Bryan, Dr. Henry Van Dyke, Dr. G. Campbell Mor- Personalities in the Church of the Covenant.-Dr. Teugan, and others. nis S. Hamlin, Dr. Charles Wood, Dr. Albert J. McCartPersonalities in the pulpit.-Among the distinguished ney.
Son of Chaplain Thornton C. Miller Ordained Rear Admiral Thornton C. Miller, Ch.C., USN, AsNational City Christian Church, Washington, D. C:, sistant Director for Visitation, Chaplains Division, BuSationa C reau of Naval Personnel, preached the ordination serminon, was the scene of the ordination of Thornton C. Miller, Jr., on Sunday, January 23, 1949,' at 8 p.m. and a number of other chaplains participated. Chaplain Harris W. Howe, USN, gave the evening prayer, at the close of which Chaplain Monroe Drew, Jr., USNR, sang The Lord's Prayer, by Malotte. Chaplain Harold G. Elsam, USA, gave the charge to the candidate.
The Rev. J. Warren Hastings, pastor of National City Christian, and other prominent Washington civilian clergy assisted in the service.
Thornton Miller, Jr., was a television engineer before his decision to enter the ministry. He graduated from the National Electronics Institute in 1939 with three years previous training at San Diego State College. He immediately went into the Radar Laboratory, Navy Yard, Pearl Harbor, T. H., in which he served for almost five years. During the period after the Japanese attack he worked on Australian, Canadian, British, and Dutch ships, as well as our own.
When he decided to become a clergyman, young Miller entered Millsaps College at Jackson, Mississippi, and graduated in 1948. He is married and has three children.
Present indications are that Thornton, Jr., will take the Rear Admiral Thornton C. Miller and Thornton C. Miller, Jr. pastorate his father served thirty-six years ago. 32 The Military Chaplain
Officers who were presented with the Croix d'Officier de la Legion d'Honneur and Croix de Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur, stand together in a group after the presentation by Lt. Gen. Maurice Mathenet, French Military Attache, at the Chancery of the French Embassy, in recognition of exceptional services rendered France during World War II. (Left to right): Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Chamberlin, Commanding General V Army; Maj. Gen. S. B. Akin, Chief Signal Officer; Maj. Gen. Luther D. Miller,
Chief of Chaplains; Maj. Gen. R. J. Marshall (Retired); Brig. Gen. B. M. Fitch; and Col. LeGrand A. Diller.
EVERETT PETER WUEBBENS 1902-1949
Chaplain Everett Peter Wuebbens, USN, after an illness of several weeks, died suddenly on the 28th of January, 1949, in the hospital of the United States Naval Academy. Chaplain Wuebbens had been Senior Chaplain of the Academy since early in 1946. He was a clergyman of the American Lutheran denomination, and deeply respected by his many friends in the military chaplaincy. A most fitting eulogy is contained in the prayer used by the Navy Chief of Chaplains, Rear Admiral W. N. Thomas, USN, at Chaplain Wuebbens' funeral in the Academy Chapel:
Almighty God, our Father, who dost lead us through the changes of time to the blessedness and rest of eternity; we cornmnit to thy keeping our friend and loved one, thanking thee for all the good that has come from his life to make the world richer because of his presence. We are grateful for his example of steadfastness, his spiritual leadership, his consecration to his ministry, his labor for his country, his loyalty to his friends, and his affection for his loved ones.
Let these memories turn our thoughts from that which we have lost for awhile to that which we can never lose-life's integrity, its strength of character, its purity of purpose, the genuineness of its friendships and affections, and the sweetness of its faith.
We give him back to thee, dear God, who gavest him to us. Yet, as thou didst not lose him in giving, so we have not lost him by his return. Not as the world giveth, givest thou, 0 Lover of souls! What thou givest, thou takest not away. For what is thine is ours always, if we are thine. Grant that increasing in knowledge and love of thee, our departed friend may go from goodness. Give them strength to return to the quiet duties of trength to strength in the life of perfect service in thy heavenly their lives and to dedicate themselves anew to the service of thy Kingdom, will. In the faith and spirit of Him who was made perfect through
Look with tenderness, we pray thee, on the sorrows of thy suffering let them henceforth live their lives. Keep us all in thy servants Sustain and comfort them in the knowledge that in great love and give us the peace that the world cannot give till thy holy keeping are the living and the dead. Renew their spirits all broken companionships are renewed; through Jesus Christ with faith and patience. Temper their grief with gratitude for thy our Lord. AMEN.
January-February 1949 33
CHAPLAIN'S CORNER VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
A three-week Daily Vacation Bible School', the first to be hdld at Mather Air Force Base, Sacramento, California came to a successful conclusion July 2 with 68 children THE CAPTAIN AND THE LADY of base personnel participating in the evening graduation By MIRIAM L. DRURY exercises at the base chapel. The Captain has a lady with something more than looks, Under the direction of Major Alfred P. Pietrek, base And the things she does, my word! that are not in Navy books; chaplain, instructors conducted five separate classes, diThis little saucy wife, if scuttlebutt be true, She hung the Monday washing in the Captain's line of view. vided according to age group. Towels, pajamas, and ladies' lingerie, Handkerchiefs and hose, for all the Navy yard to see. The Captain in his office, he fumed, and he spat; He vowed by all the saints that he wouldn't have that, He wouldn't, he couldn't, he wouldn't have that.
He called the Commander, and swore a mighty swear, Whoever hung that washing out, she couldn't leave it there. Now it happened the Commander was a married man himself, Yet he couldn't, with his training, put an order on the shelf, So he called his lieutenant, and he yelled with all his might, "You tell the Captain's lady she must hang it out of sight; And if she does her washing," so the rumors all allege, "She must hang it in the basement, or at least behind the hedge." In the basement, or the attic, or at least behind the hedge.
He in turn dispatched the ensign who was young and smooth of
face,
"That washing is a.nuisance, it's a national disgrace. Go tell the Captain's lady-better make it a requestThat she move the Monday washing, for the Captain thinks it best. The officers can see it as they pass the upper deck, And everyone is smiling from the Wave to the Exec." From the Wave, to the Yeoman, to the Aide, to the Exec. Mrs. Barbara M. Aaron (left) and Miss Jennie Mabray conduct
He did it, and the lady made this ladylike reply: a class for young children at Mather Air Force Base.
He did it, and the lady made this ladylike reply: "I shall take the washing down again as soon as it is dry. Beginning at 8:30 each weekday all children attendI shall hang the washing up again as soon as it is wet. My greetings to the Captain, and I'm happy we have met." ing gathered at the base chapel where they viewed The Captain got the message, and he sank upon his chair; colored slides of Biblical scenes and sang to illustrated He mopped his famous forehead, and he smoothed his famous hair; hymn slides. Following this period they dispersed to the He gave a counter order as he paced the office floor, Base Sunday School room and an adjoining building for And the lady hangs her washing where she hung it up before. their respective classes in religious instruction. At midThe Captain does his captaining, and gives no outward sign That he knows the day is Monday and there's washing on the line, morning the children were served milk and cookies and at That there's washing, private washing, his own washing, on the line. the conclusion of classes at 11:30 the school was dismissed.
Editor's Note: Miriam L. Drury is the wife of Chaplain Clifford M. Children attending were brought to the chapel and reDrury, Captain, USNR. turned to their homes by bus.
Beyond- Our Lord
Beyond the night, Beyond the wind, Beyond the Life,
Beyond the day, Beyond the wave, Beyond the rhyme,
Beyond the road Beyond the judgment Beyond the eons
That winds away; Of the grave; Left of time;
Beyond each hope, Beyond the Peace Beyond each worry,
Each silent prayer; That's sweet and fair; Grief and care;
Beyond it all- Beyond the Cross- Beyond the deathOur Lord is there. Our Lord is there. Our Lord is there.
S/Sgt. John Johnson.
-From Newsletter, National Lutheran Council.
34 The Military Chaplain
Letters and Comments
There is one church building for every 550 persons in tunetelling, Faith Healing, and Pacifism. The author apthe United States, which is more than fifteen times as proaches each with analysis and history. He then deals many churches as there are motion-picture houses. There with the Criminal aspects and finally with the Civil aspects are 55,000,000 seats in the churches compared with 10,- of each tenet. 500,000 in the "movies."-September, 1948, Sojourner. That section of the treatise dealing with Pacifism is of particular interest to chaplains and all religious workers. Chaplain Alva J. Brasted tells us that he is still going The treatment is factual and objective. In these days when, strong. Of this we all are witness for he has ministered again, the fundamental and wholesome peace-loving devotedly and with success to churches in Arlington Coun- qualities of our people are being agitated by false prophty, and has now been called to the pastorate of the Brad- ets it would be well for clergymen to possess this voldock Baptist Church, Lincolnia, Virginia. ume.-H.G.E.
M THE FABULOUS "DUTCH" ZELLERS. By Raymond We begged this letter from the Deputy who gave grudg- J. Jeffreys, Capitol College Press, 71 East State Street, ing consent that it be published. Mr. Robert S. Allen was Columbus 15, Ohio. Price, $2.50. PRO for III Army with General Patton and knew Chap- This is the story of a gangster and hoodlum who "got lain O'Neill at the time of the "Patton Prayer Incident." religion" in a Billy Sunday meeting and who thereupon The Editors. gave up his lucrative saloon and embarked upon a course Chaplain James H. O'Neill (Brig. Gen.) of rectitude becoming, eventually, a law officer. My dear General: Written in easy, readable style, it makes a tale that Thank you very much for your thoughtful kindness in should interest GI's. Worth adding to a Post or Base Lisending me a copy of your story of the famous Patton brary. prayer. I appreciate this very sincerely. You are very gra- Mr. Jeffreys, author of God Is My Landlord had an CoIus. eventful life. He served in World War I in the American I read the story with greatest interest and appreciation. Air Forces in England, France and Germany. A Reserve It's a wonderful tale, and one that brought back very Officer, he entered on special duty for American and Britvivid and very precious memories. I wish I had been able ish agencies in World War II. He is now operating his to contact you at the time I was writing my book. The own Lecture Bureau in Columbus, Ohio. story would have been a real adornment to it. I wish the story could be widely circulated. It's one about the General Books by Chaplains that everyone should know.
that everyone should know. THE PRINCIPLES OF CONDUCT. (Received too late I also found the magazine as a whole extremely inter- for review inthis issue.) By Daniel Somer Robinson, for review in 'this issue.) By Daniel Sommer Robinson, esting. I had never seen it before and didn't know it ex- Ph.D., Litt.D., Director of the School of Philosophy, isted. It is an excellent little publication. The editors are University of Southern Calif ia; Commander, Ch.C.
tobecogrtuatd oranoustnd n -ob University of Southern Califormia; Commander, Ch.C.
to be congratulated for an outstanding job. r
to b cogratlatd fr anouttandng ob.USNR. Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc., 35 West 32nd I also want to take this occasion to extend my congratu- USNR. Appleton-Century-Croftsc, 35 West 32nd lations on your much-merited promotion. It's very gratify- Street, New York 1, N. Y. Price, $3.75. ing to see you get this recognition. With sincerest best wishes and regards. CHAPLAIN TO THE SKY. By Charles E. Lunn. The Cordially, Hopson Book Press, 52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, ROBERT S. ALLEN. N. Y.
A collection of experiences and incidents narrated informally and in heartwarming sincerity. Every chaplain BOOK REVIEWS will have had undergone some of these experiences in CONTEMPORARY RELIGIOUS JURISPRUDENCE. some form or other. Every chaplain will find the book a By I. H. Rubenstein of the Illinois Bar; The Waldain valuable reminder of the greatness and simplicity of his Press, P. 0O. Box 97, Chicago 90, Illinois. mission. Readers of our journal will be interested in this volume that deals with "the major polemical tenets of fortunetelling, faith healing and pacifism." Says the author, "The This is a Service conflict of these tenets, particularly in their public expres- Members of this Association may obtain the Scion in actual practice with respect to public morals, pub-, book The Nazi "88" Made Believers, by Chaplain lic health, public welfare, and national safety, will always H. H. Abbott, by writing to headquarters and inbe one of the most important and pressing legal problems closing check or M. O. for-$1.25. (Retail price, which prevail in any civilization. $2.00.)
This work consists of three parts, dealing with Forhnuary-February, 1949 35
SHINTO
By CHAPLAIN WM. T. BRUNDICK, Overseas Editor, The Military Chaplain
PART II The sun goddess, so the story goes, hid herself in a cave to
To better understand Shinto it may be well if we took a show her displeasure and disgust at the repeated mishurried look into some of the things we see and hear every conduct of her brother. Then the 8,000,000 gods gathered day, things that make no sense to our Western minds. Let together in council and among other things decided a cock should proclaim the break of day before the entrance of the
us go first to a Japanese home. There we can discuss some
of those things with the people and then go to a shrine, cave into which the goddess had fled. That he might have the imperial palace and talk to a man on the street. a suitable perch, two uprights and a crossbeam were erected the imperial palace and talk to a man on the street..
One of the things that has been giving us a lot of trou- near the entrance to the cave. On this the cock was to ble is the question, how can a Japanese be a Shintoist and at perch as he proclaimed the break of day. the same time a Buddhist.' If we ask our host the question So the torii is an imitation of the arch erected before the to which faith he belongs, the look he will give us will be cave on which the cock perched that day. The crowing of a
enough to make us wonder what we did to make him cock has always been regarded by people the world over as lose face. He will stare at us in blank perplexity. For the the heralding of dawn. But to Shinto he was such a good
loefc. He .ilsaea si ln epeiy o h timekeeper, he crowed three times in announcing a new life of him he will not be able to understand what it is we timekeeper, he crowed three times in announcing a new day. Therefore do not be too surprised if before some
want to know. If we pin him right down to it and insist on shrines you find three torii. These will represent not three . a shrines you find three torii. These will represent not three an answer we shall get something like this: "At birth I was cocks crowing, but three crowings of the one cock who presented at the Shinto shrine. At that time my life was announced that new day. dedicated to the service of my emperor. When I die I exdedicated to the service of my emperor. When I die I ex- Just as the crowing of the cock announces the passing of pect to be buried by a Buddhist priest. During my lifetime the o ing the o pes the a I shall contribute to the festivals of both and feel there is he nigh, so passing under the three toi prepares the heart no inconsistency in so doing. ldo that which seems right in of the Shintoist for purified appearance before the god. The
my heart at the time. This is one of the basic teachings of passing under the torii expels the darkness from his heart. my heart at the time. This is one of the basic teachings of .hnh tnsbfr i o h c fprfcto a Shinto." When he stands before his god the act of purification has
In other words the Japanese by playing up to Shinto and taken place and he appears clean of body, mind and souL. Buddhism is assuring himself he will have at least one foot Suppose we ask our host whether it is the Buddhist or in heaven when his time comes. When a Japanese claims Shintoist who claps his hands three times as he approaches the shrine. He will tell us it is the Shintoist. Three times
he is both Shintoist and Buddhist, or for that matter Shinto-. ist and Christian, what he is really trying to do is not the he claps his hands, brings the palms together at breast level impossible as it may seem to us. He is doing what to him and reverently bows his head while in adoration he repeats is perfectly logical. Politically he is Shintoist. Religiously his prayer. The clapping of the hands three times means he is Buddhist or Christian as the case may be. They make approaching the gods with clean hands."
. As we approach the shrine be sure not to make the all absolutely no effort to draw a hard and fast line in these As we approach the shrine be sure not to make th all
matters as do we Westerners. This is the one thing to too common mistake and speak of it as a Shinto temple. matters as do we Westerners. This is the one thing to..
. The shrmne is always Shinto and the temple is always Budkeep clear in the mind, that first of all he was a Shintoist The shrine is always Shinto and the temple is always Bud. dha. Even though the Buddhist may have a shrmne dediand will be a Shintoist no matter what else he may be. He dha. Even though the Buddhist may have a shrine dedi. caed o a particular saint it is always spoken of as temple. had no way out of it since Shinto was the very breath of his cated to a particular saint it is always spoken of as temple. life. As we approach the shrine proper the first thing to atOur host will show us a family altar. In every home tract our attention will be the two huge guarding images. there is at least one altar and in some cases two. The first These are usually of stone. Our host will be quick to tell us altar will be to the Shinto sun goddess. If there is a second that the one on the left hand is the Chinese lion and the it will be much more elaborate since it will be a Buddhist one on the right hand will be the Korean dog. Other than altar. In fact, if we were left to ourselves we might not that he cannot tell you why they are of foreign origin. notice the Shinto altar because it is so -very simple and Perhaps you have wondered at the large number of stone without image. But the Shinto altar will be there and dedi- lanterns found near this shrine. We shall be told this is cated to the sun goddess, the emperor, ancestors of the im- not peculiar to this particular shrine, for in Nara and the perial family and last of all to his personal god. vicinity there are no less than 1700 stone lanterns to be
Step down the street in the direction of a Shinto shrine, found on the grounds of Shinto shrines. From what we are The first object of Shinto origin to attract our attention will told it seems that during the regime of Tokugawa the local be the torii. Ornamental though it may be today, in its lords vied with each other in erecting lanterns and offering original form it was a gateway made of logs erected at the them to shrines. Now, anyone who has the money tries to approach to a Shinto shrine. Today the torii may be found place a lantern on the shrine grounds as a memorial to anywhere, standing out in some field, even offshore far some departed member of his family, usually a warrior.
-out in the water. Our host will be quick to tell us the word Note the difference between the roof of the Shinto shrine means "bird perch" and dates back into prehistoric times. and the Buddhist temple. The roof of the shrine is either 36 The Military Chaplain
thatched or of a shingle effect. The building is plain and known as the goddess of the strip-tease act.) The council empty. The shrine preserves in a slightly elaborate form a had provided itself with a mirror. When curiosity got the type of primitive Japanese hut. Attention will be called to best of the sun goddess, she pushed aside the door of the the emptiness of the shrine and the absence of statues. It cave to find out what was causing such hilarity. Then the will not be painted or in any way adorned with decoration. council let down the mirror in which the sun goddess saw You may have wondered at the heavy rope hanging over her likeness. Not knowing she was looking at her own rethe doorway. We shall be told by our host it is the Shime- flection in a mirror and thinking she was looking at her rival nawa or sacred rope. Not only is it found over the door- she came out of the cave and resumed her rightful place. wvay of the shrine but over the doorways of many private The eight-foot string of beads or necklace as it is called homes. The rope consists of two strands of rice straw was supposed to have been made from the roots of a five plaited together in a left-handed fashion representing the hundred branched sacred sakaki tree from which were hung negative and positive. From the rope hang a few rice stalks, strings of strange comma-shaped jewels. The string of shorn of their ears and hanging roots down. In ancient rope, beads or whatever else it was, was strung across the times the root was considered to be the more significant mouth of the cave and prevented the sun goddess from part of the plant. There are also strips of white paper returning after she had come out to see the dancer. hanging between the clusters of straw. These represent the The sword is reputed to have been pulled from the tail of hands of the emperor as he reaches out to the country for the eight-headed sea serpent killed by the brother of the a good crop. sun goddess. This he gave her as a peace offering after she Our host will be quick to tell us the whoLe story of the came out of the cave whither she had fled in disgust at his rope. It represents the rope which was placed across the actions. These "Three Sacred Treasures" of which each entrance of the cave to prevent the sun goddess from re- emperor is custodian during his reign, are supposed to be in turning. A literal translation is "don't return rope." The Tokyo at present. Shimenawa is believed to sanctify any place where hung, Ask the man on the street the meaning of "The Seven which explains why it is hung above the doorways of pri- Gods of Luck." We are interested as we learn from his story vate homes as well as shrines. that according to Shinto these seven gods are due to arrive All about the grounds of the shrine are fountains of run- in port each New Year's Eve as passengers aboard the ning water, little streams or springs. These are for the con- "Treasure Ship." According to mythology they are the gods venience of the worshippers. The idea of purification is representing one, tradesmen and fishermen; two, farmers; very strong with the Shintoist. It is something worthy of three, mindens; four, militarism; five, prophets; six, longevnote and emulation by the Westerner. It is almost com- ity; seven, largeness of soul and inward wisdom. The pulsory for the worshipper to wash the mouth and hands "Treasure Ship," so we are told, if put under the pillow of before worshipping at a shrine. The frequent ablution of a Japanese maiden, as a Western girl puts wedding cake the body as practiced by Shinto priests and devout believers under her pillow, will insure her of a happy and prosperous shows the importance of purification in the mind of the marriage during the year. Shintoist. Also ask this man on the street why the Japanese hang to Leaving the shrine and starting in the direction of the the idea that it is glorious to die for the emperor. His story Imperial Palace we pass a building on which has been is indeed fantastic and has its origin in primitive Shinto. It placed a sign "Off Limits To All Occupational Troops." was not uncommon in prehistoric times for living attendants At long last we learn why public bathhouses are off limits, to be buried alive with the dead king. No matter where It is not for the reason we think. Instead, the powers that the god happens to be he must be attended. So to assure be do not want us contaminated by Shinto teachings. Clean- of proper attendance to a departed emperor his principal liness is one of the few worth while items of feudal Shinto. attendants were entombed at the time of his burial. This We are told according to mythology that the god Izanagi gruesome practice was strictly a primitive Shinto practice when returning from a visit to his wife in hell, purified and never practiced during the second and third periods. himself by bathing in the boiling waters of a stream. So But when Japan turned her face from the future to the past today the water used in public bathhouses is heated to searching for things typically Japanese, this was one of the 110 degrees Fahrenheit, which in itself is a good reason for things unearthed. It was given a new face and made the keeping us out. infallible formula for a glorious death in battle. This
At the Imperial Palace we are shown a room in which fantastic idea was bred into the mind of the male child are kept the "Three Sacred Treasures," used only at the from infancy. Such questions formed a part of his military time of crowning the emperor. They are explained thus: catechism, "What will you do if your arm is cuit off in bat"When the grandson of the sun goddess was sent to earth tle? What will you do if called upon to commit hara-kiri?" to establish a new kingdom the 'Three Sacred Treasures' Always the answer was, "I shall do it gladly to glorify my were his badge of authority." emperor." And as he looks you squarely in the eye he will
At the time the sun goddess fled to the cave and refused say, "To have died for the sake of my Emperor on the to associate with the other gods and goddesses, the council field of battle during the war would have been for me to decided to trick her into coming out into the open. They live forever." engaged a beautiful goddess to do a dance number before Many of us as we walk down the streets have seen the entrance of the cave. As she danced she removed one hordes, yes, literally hordes of children, on the march. piece of clothing after the other. The members of the Where do they go, these children in school uniform? They council howled with glee. (For myself she should be move in orderly fashion accompanied by their teachers. We January-February, 1949 37
meet them going to the shrines and to "National Treasur- make these and our concept of world brotherhood and the ers." They are being introduced to all their country has Golden Rule mean the same thing. meant to their parents, forebears and ancestors. What are Let us go back once more to the "Three Sacred Treas. some of the things they learn? Is it, do you think, of de- ures" and see how they make up the "Code of Administra. mocracy as they are forever marching to the shrines of tive Ethics." The mirror neither hides nor perverts; it reShinto, a cult that for centuries taught a rank fanaticism? flects evil qualities as well as good. It is the emblem of Each child, from babyhood had been taught his emperor honesty and purity. The Jewel necklace illustrates the came first in his life. Here are a few questions and answers graces of gentleness, amiability and obedience, and is there. taken from a nursery catechism: fore emblematic of benevolence and virtue. The sword inQuestion: "What do you love best in the world?" dicates the virtues of strength, sharpness and practical deAnswer: "The Emperor, of course." cision and is therefore associated with intelligence and Question: "Better than father and mother?" knowledge. So long as all these qualities are exercised in
Answer: "Yes, he is lord of heaven, father of my father. the discharge of administrative functions, there can be no
Answer: "Yes, he is lord of heaven, father of my father.' misrule.
Question: "What will you give your Emperor?T misrule. N
Answer: "All my best toys and my life when he wants it." The late Nitobe, one of the wisest of all modern Japanese philosphers, said, and with it we close, "Though at
Mark you this, we are not saying this is being taught the foot of the hill we are far apart, as we ascend higher today to these children. But we leave it to you to decide if and higher, the nearer approach our paths, until they meet this was taught to those who are the teachers of today, can at the summit, to share the view of the plain below from we hope that fanaticism has been entirely eradicated from the height of the new divine wisdom. On this height, in the their minds in the short space of time since the renunciation fullness of time, may be brought into common brotherhood, of divinity by Emperor Hirohito? the philosophers of the north and the seers of the south,
Victory over the armed forces of Japan does not neces- the thinkers of the west and the wise men of the east and sarily mean we have conquered an aggressive war-making God, shall be glorified by all his children. The hour is nationalism. It does not mean that the power of Shinto, coming when neither on the mountains of Samaria nor in which gave these, people their life, their strength and their the City of Jerusalem, neither in the Orient nor in the Occipurpose of world domination is gone. Kurusu and Nomura, dent, but in spirit and truth, wherever men come together the bombs of.Pearl Harbor, suicidee pilots"-all these were in brotherly love, shall they worship the same Father." part of the, way of life, of emperor worship, of a selfstyled ".divine" Japan with a commission from heaven to Chaplain's Place conquer the world. (Continued from page 5) Robert O. Baliou says: "If we are wise, our propagandists by training nor by the nature'of their command relationwill make the most minute study of all Shinto literature ship with the men in their units can other officers invite from 712 A.D. down to the present day, and enlist the co- the high degree of personalized confidence that this kind operation of the Shinto and Buddhist sects to the end that of help demands. the unifying strength of the ancient cults may be preserved In summation, I regard Chaplains as custodians and as a base on which to build new interpretations in which the guardians of that most precious ingredient of life-the official state doctrine may be superseded in Japan by an soul. The degree of success you attain in executing the enlightened universalism such as that which distinguishes mandate of your high calling is measurable directly in the ethical doctrines of the good-will religions." the spirit and morale of those under your charge. Thus
We have no quarrel with the Japanese assertion that the in a real sense, the efficiency of our services is dependent world is one family. One of our stated objectives nWorld upon you, and if you feel, as I do, that the security of our War II was to preserve our interpretation of this statement nation is in considerable measure based upon our ability of principle. Are we of the United Nations poorer in- to carry out our obligations, then it truly can be said that doctrinators than were the Shinto teachers of Japan?,? We you are vital elements in the survival of American civilihave been. But must we always be? Do we.care enough zation. about peace in the Pacific to give to building it one-tenth of
the effort and ingenuity we devoted to the war effort? A Prayer by the Late Dr. Peter Marshall
One of the most powerful slogans of America's 18th Teach us, our Father, how to look at the things we see, century revolt was, "The voice of the people is the voice, of and to look at them without bias or prejudice. We may not God." Would it be difficult to demonstrate that the voice know how much of our troubles are caused by refusing of the Japanese people is the voice of Amaterasu? The to look at the facts or by viewing them so differently. United Nations as trustees of .the future of Japan and. of We are 'all too familiar with "dirty looks," "scornful the world can go far toward such a demonstration if they looks," "unbelieving looks," "black looks." Give to us dishave the wisdom, patience and tolerance, not of, a state corning and understanding looks. With the truth waiting Shinto, not of the militarist, not of the doctrines of racial to be looked at, discovered,,and applied, forgive us when superiority and world conquest, but of the people who have we refuse to look at it or to welcome it. If Thou wilt been their dupes. With such wisdom and patience it should help us to cast the mote of prejudice and pride out, of Our be possible to make the ethical seeds already planted by eyes, then shall we.see 'clearly. .. Buddhism and Shinto along with the wise liberal secular We pray for good sight and good sense, in the name leaders of the past to blossominto p doctrine which should of Jesus Christ. Amrnen.
3,8 The Military Chaplain
THOUGHTS, CTIVITIES, ECHNIQUES
A Department of Helpful Suggestions and Materials for Chaplains
Religious Screen tional Lutheran Council, 231 Madison Avenue, New York The year 1949 promises to be an exciting one, as far as 16, N. Y. audio-visuals are concerned. This will be so throughout
the religious world, but chaplains may look forward to a "The Life of Joseph" is now available in 35-mm. slide number of developments not yet within sight for civilians, film, produced by Cathedral Films. Five subjects are inA new joint Army-Navy Specification 16-mm. sound cluded: Joseph Sold into Egypt, From Palace to Prison, projector will be offered in general procurement within a Joseph's Dreams Come True, Joseph Makes Himself few months, a projector which the civilian world may not Known, The Family United. In color the price is $5.00 see for several years. It is a vast improvement over any- each, or $22.50 for the series. In black and white they are thing in use today, and will in effect make possibe "theater offered for $3.00 each, or $12.50 for the series. Further inquality" presentations by any chaplain, formation may be obtained from Cathedral Films, 1970 Another real step forward will be the extensive use of Cahuenga Boulevard, Hollywood 28, California. tape recorders designed to use existing amplifiers. Conditions in the military prompt our prediction that this year General Items will start the replacement of most groove recordings with A highly useful catalog for Catholics, called "Religion magnetized tape. Teaching Aids" is available from the Catechetical Guild The major problem in the offing is in the realm of Educational Society, 147 East 5th Street, St. Paul, 1, Mintraining. Chaplains must be willing to make a serious nesota. study of audio-visuals, not merely as "aids," but as major media of expression. We will soon have the proper tools; United Air Lines has filed notice of a tariff which, if the rest is up to us! approved by the Civil Aeronautics Board, will give reduced airline fares to the clergy for the first time in history.
New Films Available Harold Crary, Vice-President, Traffic and Sales, of "Prejudice" is the third of the Protestant Film Commis- United, sent a letter of intent to the Air Transport Assosion's productions. It is a full dramatization dealing with ciation in Washington, detailing his company's plan to racial prejudice, for the most part, and should prove use- offer the clergy a 25 per cent discount on basic airline fares. ful in many ways. Prejudices against the Jews shape the He said United expects to file a tariff with the Civil Aerostory's plot, but there is ample scope to the treatment to nautics Board on January 28 for an effective date of March cover other races. It is 16-mm., black and white, sound; 1 to provide this reduced transportation for all ordained running time 55 minutes. Information on its rental price or licensed clergy. Such persons would have to hold a and distribution may be obtained from the Religious Film clergy card issued by United Air Lines for which there Association, 45 Astor Place, New York 3, N. Y. would be a $3 annual charge.
fm The reduced fares would apply between all stations on "The Vatican of Pius XII" is a 16-mm. reduction of a United's 80-city system except Honolulu and Avalon, San"March of Time" release. It represents a personal pil- ta Catalina Island. grimage to the Holy City, with much of the history of the
Catholic Church reviewed, as well as all of the activities Lutherans and Roman Catholics in Germany are planof the Vatican. Every Catholic chaplain will find this film ning joint sponsorship of a project that will be patterned of real service. Running time, 25 minutes. Information on after the famed "Boys' Town" in the United States to proits rental or purchase may be obtained from Library Films, vide a home for some 3,000 wayward boys and orphans. Inc., 25 West 45th Street, New York 19, New York. Details of the co-operative effort between the wo faiths :t were revealed in New York City when the U.S.A. Com"Answer for Anne" is a production of the National mittee for the Lutheran World Federation authorized a Lutheran Council, with the co-operation of the Interna- grant of $10,000 to support the venture. Lutheran share tional Refugee Organization. Part of the scenes were in the venture will be under the supervision of Bishop filmed in Camp Valka, a D.P. camp in Germany. Details Hanns Lilje of the Church of Hannover. of camp life, and the difficulty of trying to live a normal The German civil government has turned over to the family life under camp conditions are depicted, and finally churches a former camp for fliers of the German Air Force. the solution is presented in terms of resettlement in Located just south of Bremen, near the town of Delmenthe United States. Running time, 40 minutes; 16-mm. black horst, the property consists of a large number of well-built and white. Information on its rental and distribution may buildings. It includes assembly halls, dining rooms, swimbe obtained from the Division of Public Relations, Na- ming pool, and fine opportunities for agricultural work.
JOlanuary-February, 1949 39
The buildings are in good condition. However, a large table (and the total is over 100 per cent because some of amount of equipment will be needed.-The Lutheran. the people gave more than one answer): ftNone ......................... 3.6%o
Congratulations to Navy Chaplain Ross H. Trower for Church music, hymns .............. 60.8
the excellent write-up of his orphan-feed in Naples, Italy, Popular dance music ............... 59.5
found in the January 19, 1949 issue of The Lutheran. A Old favorites, folk tunes ........... 54.4
couple of fine pictures accompany the article. Semiclassical, operettas ............ 42.3
ft Cowboy or hillbilly music ......... 37.4
The television audience of Dumont's station WABD Classical .................... ... 33.3
(New York channel No. 5) hears several programs dur- Boogy-woogy, jive ................. 18.9
ing the week arranged by the Federal Council of Churches. All others ........................ 1.8
The "Morning Chapel Service"-acceptable to all creeds This is important for a number of reasons. Among them
-is televised at 9:15 a.m., EST, on Monday and Thurs- is the fact that the church is still the greatest influence day. On Tuesday mornings the Federal Council has been outside the home in promoting interest in music. And the experimenting. It has presented several panel discussions fact that classical music ranks 33.3 per cent is an astonish. by speakers from missionary groups and kindred inter- ing and eloquent testimonial to American taste. Accorddenominational agencies and also a program patterned ing to this tabulation, every third person in the U.S.A. has after the chatty, informal "husband and wife" programs some interest in and liking for the best kind of music. well known to radio listeners in the New York area. It seems to be no exaggeration to claim that America is
Dr. and Mrs. Norman Vincent Peale of New York's today a musical nation.-Christian Union Herald. Marble Collegiate Church were asked to participate. They were hesitant but finally agreed to try it out. The setting An audience-reaction appraisal on "Men of the World," decided upon was the breakfast table. The opening scene recently completed first film of the Navy Chaplain Corps depicts the family altar. A scripture is read and grace is five-picture character education series, indicates real sucsaid. In an easy conversational manner Dr. and Mrs. Peale cess for this initial effort. Seventy-two per cent of the discuss religious faith and its practical application to prob- enlisted men tested indicated a strong approval of the lems of everyday life. There was an immediate response picture, and only four per cent felt a negative reaction, from the television audience and Dr. and Mrs. Peale were Two out of every three men involved believed the picture asked to give several more programs. One is scheduled would improve the conduct of Navy men. Over 600 enfor January 25. listed men participated in this appraisal, and the film was
Dumont officials, after deciding in October to go on shown along with feature pictures in typical entertainment the air at 7 a.m.-unprecedented in television-requested situations. the Federal Council to provide three 15-minute programs The Navy Film Production Board of Review, at its Janweekly. They wanted a religious service acceptable to all uary meeting, approved full production status for the recreeds. The Federal Council accepted with the understand- maining films in this "For Which We Stand" series. Subing that the Tuesday broadcast would deviate from this jects to be dealt with are: Temperate Living, Continence, pattern. Home Life, and Religion. Completion of the entire series
The set used for the service on Mondays and Thursdays is expected by the end of 1949. is a chapel interior with simulated altar permitting many
angle shots and superimposures. The service includes THE OFFICE SECRETARY SAYS: prayer, a scripture lesson and several hymns.-Federal By PEGGY FLOYD Council Bulletin.
n THIS OFFICE WISHES TO THANK all chaplains who so generously included us in your Christmas greetGreat Scenes From Great Plays, Episcopal Church's new ings list, it helps to know that you remember us .. nationwide radio program, started October 1, and heard Chaplains! Please make checks payable to "The Military weekly since, has already topped all records for religious Chaplains Association." . If you are out of the Service, broadcasts. Its "Radio Pulse" rating has reached 6.3, run- please fill in application completely with branch of service ners-up being The Eternal Light with 3.3; Greatest Story you were in, serial number, etc. It is estimated that it takes Ever Told, 3.7; Catholic Hour, 3.3; Church of the Air, 1.2; a scant five minutes to process each dues payment if all Salt Lake City Tabernacle Choir, 1.7. information is complete. . If you plan to attend the f1949 Convention in Chicago, you must have a 1949 The first comprehensive survey of America's music habits membership card before you can register. . After the was completed recently at the behest of the American last issue of THE MILITARY CHAPLAIN, Chaplain E. L. Music Conference, and a table compiled which represents Ackiss' secretary called this office to give us the latest ada sampling of 4,537 families (15,566 individuals) in 74 dresses on Navy chaplains whose names appeared in that cities, towns, and rural areas. The allocation was proper- issue. That's the kind of co-operation we like. Thanks! ly distributed geographically by income groups and town . Since no exact or detailed records exist covering the sizes. early history of the Association, we do not have dues recIt is most interesting to see what kind of music, people ords for earlier than 1946 and perhaps some of what we who have any interest at all in music prefer. Here is the have are inaccurate. 40 The Military Chaplain
"SEE YOU IN CHICAGO!"
By CHAPLAIN SHERIDAN BELL, Program Chairman, State Councilman, Ohio
W E'LL SEE YOU IN CHICAGO! Pre- ening spiritual resources for the task that
liminary plans indicate that the meet- every man of God faces today. As soon as the ing of the Military Chaplains' Association will completed program is ready, additional inmake the 18th Annual Conference, which will formation will be sent to members so that they be held May 10-13, at the Morrison Hotel, can make adequate plans to attend the ChiChicago, Illinois, one of the finest that the cago Conference. Association has ever known. This is the first The officers of the Conference will be Hontime since the war the Conference has been orary President, Robert J. White, Rear Adheld in the Midwest and it will make it pos- miral, USNR (Ret.), President, The Military sible for a larger number of active and in- Chaplains' Association; Honorary Vice-Presiactive chaplains to attend. dents, Leslie F. Zimmerman, IV, AA, Air
Chaplain Robert J. White spent the Christ- Force Area; Msgr. E. J. Smith, V. AA; Harmas season in Chicago raising the money to old H. Schulz, V. AA Chaplain; Frederick guarantee the success of the Conference. The Mehling, Ninth Naval District Chaplain; responsibility for the arrangements and pro- Chaplain Richard W. Gregoire, Veterans Adgram will be distributed between the coun- ministration, Branch Office Number 7. cilmen of the seven Midwestern States and Chairman of the Conference will be Chapthe Chicago Chapter of The Military Chap- lain Millard G. Roberts, President of the Chilains' Association. cago Chapter, Military Chaplains' AssociaThe organization of the conference was tion; Treasurer, Chaplain Joseph C. Niglis, effectively planned and presented at a meet- Wisconsin Councilman. ing of the National Executive Committee of Co-chairman will be Chaplain Marian A. The Military Chaplains' Association and the Kaleth, State Councilman of Illinois; ChapNational Conference Committee in Chicago lain Albert M. Shulman, State Councilman of on January 6th, at the Chaplain's office, Head- Indiana; Chaplain Joseph C. Niglis, State quarters, Fifth Army. Councilman of Wisconsin; Chaplain A. L.
We want to keep these four days in May Rustad, State Councilman of Minnesota; free so that you can attend the 18th Annual Chaplain DeLoss Marken, State Councilman Conference. The program with the central of Iowa; Chaplain Gustave A. Schellhase, theme, "The Global Mission of the Military State Councilman of Michigan; Chaplain Chaplains," will bring to the conference ses- Sheridan W. Bell, State Councilman of Ohio. sions the most outstanding religious, military Chaplain James H. O'Neill, Deputy Chief and political leaders that the committee can of Chaplains of the Army, commented after obtain. The impressive list of world-known the presentation of the proposed program, leaders, who addressed the 17th Annual Con- "It is a big job, but it can be done! It is going ference in New York last May, brought a to add strength to the Chaplaincy and to rechallenging message that spiritually alerted ligion in the armed forces." every chaplain present. We plan to provide We bring this preliminary announcement the same powerful impetus at this Confer- with a great deal of enthusiasm for we have ence. felt that the 18th Annual Conference comes
The Chiefs of Chaplains for the Army, Air at a most critical time when we need the reForce, Navy and Veterans Administration affirmation of our faith and the inspiration will be present and will participate in the pro- of a group of like-minded men to maintain gram. The committee has prepared a program our mutual responsibilities. So we say, that will bring practical aid as well as deep- "SEE YOU IN CHICAGO!"
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THE 1949 TRAINING CONFERENCE gives great promise of being a most significant gathering
Plan To AttendMay 10-13, 1949 MORRISON HOTEL Chicago, Illinois
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